Ch 24&25 OR & WA Flashcards
Describe Oregon
Pacific NW
4th largest wine producing state
Bordered by WA to N and CA to S, but more marginal climate than either
1st MODERN vineyard established w/ V. Vinifera vines in 1961 near Roseburg, somewhat S of most of today’s OR Vineyards
These vineyards caught attn of others, primarily David Lett, who in 1966 planted 5 ha of PN in Dundee Hills, now an AVA in N Willamette Valley
What prompted winemakers to move to OR (often from CA)?
Search for more appropriate sites to make Burgundian style wines
In 1979, OR’s potential became obvious when, in the Wine Olympics blind tasting organized by Gault-Millau, David Lett’s 1975 Eyrie Vineyards Reserve PN was awarded 10th place against other PNs from around the world
The Burgundy winemaker Robert Drouhin of Maison Drouhin, organized a rematch, at which 1975 Eyrie Vineyards took 2nd to Drouhin’s 1959 Chambolle-Musigny
What did French winemaker Drouhin do as a result of Eyrie Vineyards’s excellent showings at wine competitions?
Purchased land in OR and established a winery: Domaine Drouhin OR in the Willamette Valley
This continues to be run by the family
A # of Burgundian winemakers have since followed
How does OR differ from CA in terms of its wine biz?
unlike CA and WA, the industry in OR is dominated by smaller, family-owned businesses,
some of which are 5th generation still farming their ancestors’ original land
How has the size of the OR wine biz changed over last 25 yr?
Recent expansion in the # of wineries has been remarkable, increasing >5x in last 25 yr
How many AVAs in OR?
complex geology and topography of the vineyard areas has led to formation of 19 AVAs
15 AVAs wholly w/in the state
4 AVAs across borders
Describe the OR climate
Most of OR’s wine regions re situated in W part of the state, just inland from the Pacific Ocean
The Coastal Range provides some, but not total protection from Pacific influences
In general, the wine regions are cool to moderate climate
Located at 42-46 N latitude (roughly equivalent to FR Mediterranean coast up to Mâcon
Cold currents and winds from Pacific Ocean
Long daylight hours in SU and AU —> aids ripening
Many areas have high rainfall, but mainly in WI (Willamette Valley, the wettest region, gets >1000mm/yr, but only 200mm falls April - Sept)
Describe OR soils
free-draining marine sedimentary, volcanic, and loess soils are found in most growing areas
Good for a region that gets a lot of rain (Willamette Valley, the wettest region, gets >1000mm/yr, but only 200mm falls April - Sept)
Describe vineyard management in OR
Climatic conditions and implications
Wind and dry summers reduce mildew and disease pressure —> enables sustainable growing
OR emphasizes sustainable, organic, biodynamic
47% are certified sustainable
52% of all Demeter Biodynamic vineyards in the US are in OR
Other voluntary programs include Oregon Tilth (organic certifier), Salmon-Safe LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), Certified Sustainable, and Deep Roots Coalition
What % of OR vineyards are sustainable?
What % of Demeter Biodynamic vineyards in the US are in OR?
~47% sustainable
52% of US Biodynamic are in OR
What voluntary programs have come out of OR’s commitment to sustainability?
Oregon Tilth (organic certifier),
Salmon-Safe LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology),
Certified Sustainable, and
Deep Roots Coalition
Grape(s) in OR
wide variety grown, but by far most planted is PN (57% of plantings)
PG is 2nd, but decreasing in favor of Chardonnay
Others include Syrah, CS, Merlot, Riesling
How has clonal selection come into play for growing PN in OR?
Traditional PN clones in OR were Wadenswil and Pommard
Intro of Dijon clones in late 1980s permitted increased clonal diversity, better enabling producers to choose clones that suited the climate and soils of their vineyard sits and style of wine they wanted to make
All of these are still used
Some producers use a selection, whereas others choose to make at least some of their wines from a single clone
How has clonal selection come into play for growing Chard in OR?
Original clonal selections from CA such as Wente and clone 108 proved difficult for cooler OR climate
Intro of earlier-ripening Dijon clones has increased the diversity and ability to better match clone to site and wine style
W/ recent warmer vintages, Dijon clones are now ripening a little too early so some producers are returning to CA heritage
What winemaking techniques are common for PN in OR
techniques vary by winemaker
In general, use of whole bunches has increased
Some choose to use ambient yeasts and are experimenting w/ alt fermentation and storage vessels, including amphorae
Majority of wines are matured in oak
The proportion used is decreasing
Describe the profile of OR PN
M+ acid
M to M+ Tannin
Often High alcohol
Range of Fl from red cherry & raspberry to black cherry & plum
G to O, Generally $$$ w/ some $$$$
Significant OR producers
Bergström Wines
Evening Land
Describe the winemaking for OR PG
Made both dry and off-dry, w/ current trend going toward drier
Winemaking ranges from whole-bunch pressing and cool ferment in SS to create a light fruity style…
To skin contact, old barrels and lees contact to increase complexity and texture
Describe OR PG
M to full-bodied
M to M+ acid
Pear, peach and melon fruit, sometimes w/ a nutty or honeyed note
Often G to VG, $$
Describe OR Chard winemaking
Often made w/ whole bunch pressing
Followed by ferment and maturation in oak, generally w/ a high % of old oak
Full MLF/C and lees contact are common, influencing flavor & texture
Lees are usually left w/o stirring to encourage low levels of reductive sulfur compounds to develop, giving smoky, struck match aromas
Describe OR Chard
M+ acidity
M+ body
Fruit flavors of lemon & peach
May have slight oxidative notes from aging in oak (mainly used)
Full MLF/C and lees contact are common, influencing flavor & texture
Lees are usually left w/o stirring to encourage low levels of reductive sulfur compounds to develop, giving smoky, struck match aromas
G to VG
$$ to $$$
What is the largest AVA in OR?
How many sub-AVAs does it have?
Willamette Valley AVA
7 Sub-AVAs
What is the 2nd largest AVA in OR?
How many sub-AVAs does it have?
What % of OR vineyards
Southern Oregon AVA
5 sub-AVAs
25% of all OR Vineyards
Which AVAs does OR share w/ other states?
Columbia Valley AVA w/ WA
Walla Walla AVA w/ WA
Columbia Gorge AVA w/ WA
Snake River Valley AVA w/ Idaho
Describe Willamette Valley AVA
General size and location
Geo features
Climatic conditions
largest AVA in OR
Proximity to OR’s main cities provides easy access for tourists
Located in W part of OR
Diverse geo features have led to creation of 7 sub-AVAs
Only 80km from pacific Ocean
Bordered on W side by the Coast Range mountains which provide some protection, but many areas still affected by cold Pacific winds
Valley is one of coolest and wettest areas of OR, but still benefits from warm, dry SU and long hours of sunshine
Diurnal range is high during growing season
Lack of humidity in the air over the dry growing season means that temps can rise and fall quickly
Why is there a high diurnal range in Willamette Valley during the growing season?
Air rises from the warm interior of central OR and causes cool air to be pulled inland
This effect is particularly strong earlier in the day in the AVAs of Van Duzer Corridor, Eola Amity Hills, and to some extent, McMinnville
Do producers generally use irrigation in Willamette Valley? Why or why not?
while the SU months are dry, many do not use irrigation
Legislation prevents all but the longest-est’d producers from using water from rivers
In order to use irrigation, producers would need to build ponds on their property to collect water in WI
Many producers only own small plots of land and irrigation would be expensive to install and maintain
Where rainfall and water retention properties of the soil allow, producers dry farm
Describe Willamette Valley soils
Implications for vine training
diverse range
Fertile loam soils are found on valley floors (up to ~60m) left by floods in the Columbia Gorge several 1000 years ago. These are mostly suited to PG, but if PN grown, vigor must be managed (e.g. Scott Henry vine training)
Higher altitudes have mixture of marine sedimentary soils (e.g. sandstone), volcanic basalt, and loess soils — generally lower fertility. Here vines tend to be cordon trained or replacement-cane pruned w/ VSP
Describe Dundee Hills AVA
Location and location of vineyards
Implications
Soils and implications
perhaps the most well-known AVA in Willamette Valley
Where the state’s first PN was planted
Made up of a series of volcanic hills running N to S w/ lateral ridges running E to W
Vineyards start at 60m up to 325m
This results in vineyards at higher altitudes than the rest of Willamette Valley —> helps retain acidity
Temp is warmer than other AVAs b/c buffered to the W from the Coast Range and to the N by the Chehalem Mountains, sheltering it form cold wet conditions —> enables fruit ripeness
Area has the highest proportion of red iron-rich clay formed from volcanic basalt
The clay is important to retaining water during the dry SU (little access to irrigation) to avoid vines shutting down and ensure grapes become fully ripe
Describe Chehelem Mountains AVA
Size, location, geo features
Location of vineyards
Soils
Relative # of vineyards
defined by a ridge of Northern Willamette Valley
32km long x 8 km wide (
Includes discrete spurs, mountains and ridges
Vineyards planted btw 60m and 305m w/ highest point to the ridge at ~500m serving as a windbreak
Range in altitude, aspects and soil types (loess, volcanic basalt, sedimentary)
The most plantings of any sub-AVA and a large # of wineries
Describe Ribbon Ridge AVA
small AVA in Willamette Valley
An island-like ridge that rises to ~200m from the Chehalem Valley floor, in the W of the Chehalem Mountain AVA
Vineyards are relatively low elevation, protected from wind by surrounding ranges creating consistently warm dry growing area
Sedimentary soils is relatively deep but low in nutrients —> controls vigor
Moderate water-holding which is much needed (water for drip irrigation unavailable)
All of these factors lead to concentrated grapes
Describe Yamhill-Carlton District AVA
Geo features
Soils
Location and location (elevation) of vineyards
Implications for style of wine
Willamette Valley sub-AVAS-facing bowl w/ a series of horseshoe-shaped eroded hills composed of ancient sedimentary soil
PN is by far the most planted variety
In the NW of Willamette Valley
Sits in foothills of the Coast Range which forms a rain shadow over area
S-facing slopes (60-300m), warm free-draining sedimentary soils and sheltered nature of the AVA lead to wines w/ riper fruit flavors, fuller body, and lower acidity than those of other sub-AVAs
Describe the Band Duzer Corridor AVA
Location
Geo features and implications
soils
Willamette Valley sub-AVA
Towards the SW of the Willamette Valley
A beak in the Coast Range funnels Pacific Ocean winds during the afternoon, cooling vineyards at warmest time of day
Early in season, winds can disrupt flowering and fruit set —> lower yields
Later I noted season, winds can cause leaf stomata to shut and slow ripening
Cooling nature of winds also slow ripening process, helping to retain acidity, slow sugar accumulation while flavors develop
Wind also reduces disease pressure
Soils are marine sediment loam and silt, shallow, well-draining
Descrive Eola-Amity Hills AVA
Location
Location of vineyards and implications
Willamette Valley sub-AVA
A ridge of N to S hills of shallow rocky volcanic basalt over sedimentary soil
Located E of the Van Duzer Corridor AVA and like VDC, is relatively low-lying area, w/ many vineyard sites sitting at 75-250m and influenced by same cool winds leading to slower ripening
However, due to range of aspects and altitudes, there is greater variation in how much vineyards are affected by winds
