Oregon Flashcards
Oregon Climate is
Cool to moderate w/Pacific influence
Oregon latitude
42-46*N (similar to Macon)
Oregon soils are
Free draining, marine sedimentary
Oregon rain falls mostly in the
Winter, little falls during the growing season
True or False
Almost half of Oregon’s vineyards are certified sustainable
True
What grape is most planted in Oregon
Pinot Noir
Three PN clones used in Oregon
Wadenswill, Pommard, Dijon
Chardonnay clones used in Oregon
Wente, clone 108, Dijon (earlier ripening)
Two main white grapes grown in Oregon
Pinot Gris, Chardonnay
Willamette Valley has how many sub-AVAs?
11
Willamette valley contains what percent of all vineyards in Oregon?
68%
Southern Oregon AVA has how many sub-AVAs?
5
How many appellations in Oregon cross into other states and what are they?
4
Oregon/Washington
-Columbia Gorge
-Columbia Valley
-Walla Walla Valley
Oregon/Idaho
-Snake River
Oregons largest AVA is
Willamette Valley
11,000 ha under vine
Explain the climate of the Willamette Valley and the influence the Pacific Ocean has on it
WV is one of the coolest and wettest areas in Oregon. The coastal range mountains offer some protection from Pacific cool/wet influences but breaks in it offer direct influence. Summers are still warm and dry, and due to latitude sunshine hours are high. Diurnal range is high due to warm inland air pulling cool Pacific air inland.
Is irrigation allowed in Willamette Valley?
Only if growers dig their own ponds and retain their own water, river water is only permitted for the longest established vineyards.
Most growers are small plot holders, dry farming is prevalent.
Name the 11 sub AVAs of Willamette Valley
Dundee Hills
Chehalem Mountains
Ribbon Ridge
Yamhill-Carlton District
Van Duzer Corridor
Eola-Amity Hills
McMinnville
Laurelwood District
Tualatin hills
Lower Long Tom
Mount Pishah
Polk County
What is the dominant variety in Willamette Valley
Pinot Noir
60-80% of plantings
The most well known AVA in Willamette Valley with volcanic hills running north to south with lateral ridges running east to west
Dundee Hills
ASL of Dundee Hills
60 to 325m
Higher altitudes than rest of WV
Retains acid and lengthens growing season
Dundee Hills is warmer or cooler than other AVAs and why?
Warmer due to protection from Coastal Range to west and Chehalem Mountains to north enabling full fruit ripeness
Soils of Dundee Hills
Red Iron Rich clay - important for water retention during dry summers to avoid vine shutdown during summer
Which sub AVA of Willamette Valley has the most plantings?
Chehalem Mountains
ASL of Chehalem Mountains
60-305 m
Highest point of ridge - 500m - acts as windbreak
Sub AVA of Chehalem Mountains
Laurelwood District
Highest altitude AVA in Willamette
Laurelwood- 500m
This sub AVA of the Willamette Valley is small, low in elevation, and protected from winds by the Chehalem Mountains providing a warm growing area. Soils are deep but poor in nutrients, controlling vine vigor, and have moderate water retention properties leading to concentrated grapes.
Ribbon Ridge
This sub AVA is in the NW of Willamette Valley. It is a south facing bowl containing horseshoe shaped eroded hills of warm, free draining soils. The coastal range provides a full rain shadow effect providing wines with roper fruit flavors, fuller body, and lower acid than other sub-AVAs
Yamhill-Carlton District
What influence does the Pacific Ocean have in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA? And what is the effect on the vines?
There is a break in the coastal range that funnels cool winds in during the afternoon. Early in the season the winds can disrupt flowering and fruit set leading to lower yields. Later in the season the winds can cause the leaf stomata to close which slows ripening. The cooler wind also slows ripening, retaining acid, slowing sugar accumulation and allowing aromas and flavors to develop. It also reduces disease pressure.
Eola Amity Hills AVA is influenced by the same cool air as the Van Duzer Corridor however what leads to variation here?
Eola Amity Hills is a ridge of north to south hills that offer a range of aspects and altitudes offering some warmer, more sheltered sites
This sub AVA of Willamette Valley is located between the Yamhill Carlton and Van Duzer Corridor AVAs and influenced by both. Cool winds come from its southwest, Van Duzer, and heat from its north, Yamhill Carlton.
McMinnville
Name two factors that allow for late ripening in Tualatin Hills AVA
Pacific Ocean cool/wet air 24 miles away
Soils are Laurelwood windblown loess- poor in nutrients
Southern Oregon AVA is warmer or cooler than Willamette Valley?
Warmer but cooling influences come from mountains (altitude and cool air descending) and river valleys (channels cool breeze in afternoon/evening) = high diurnal range
Southern Oregon AVA are or are not permitted to irrigate with river water?
They are. Many growers were ranchers previously and therefore allowed. Dry farmed vineyards are planted to Rhone varieties.
Most planted variety of Southern Oregon AVA?
Pinot Noir
The coolest, most northerly sub AVA in Southern Oregon that specializes in Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, gewurz, and Riesling.
Umpqua Valley
Rogue Valley’s cooling influences come from?
Altitude- 250-900m from Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range
And
Cooling breezes drawn in from pacific by Illinois and applegate River valleys
Rogue Valley AVA grapes?
Merlot, cab sauv, Syrah, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir
Climate in Walla Walla Valley AVA?
Arid continental with hot, dry summers
Walla Walla Valley specializes in what varieties?
Cab sauv, Merlot, Syrah
What sub AVA is located entirely within Oregon that has distinct basalt stones that radiate warmth and allow for extra ripening?
The Rocks District of Milton Freewater
Columbia Gorge AVA has cooling influences from what?
The west is closest to Pacific Ocean and has cooler, wetter weather than the east. Vineyards are planted up to 600m offering cool sites and winds are funneled by the gorge which also cool.
The west of Columbia Gorge is planted to what type of varieties vs the east?
Burgundian and Alsatian vs Rhone and Iberian
How much of the Columbia Valley AVA is in Oregon?
About 1/4
Origin labeling % in Oregon
100%
Stated appellation %
95%
Multi state AVAs labeling
Can choose either states labeling laws but must be 100% from those two states
Variety stated minimum labeling in Oregon
90%
Estate bottled labeling %
100% within one of oregons AVAs and vinified at estate
Percentage of wineries able to bottle estate grown fruit in Oregon?
52%
Route to market for Oregon wines?
1/4 DTC
16% sold in state (retail/hospitality)
60% domestic
3% export (Canada taking 1/2)
Most producers in Oregon are:
75% are small, family owned, producing less than 5000 cases
