Oregon Flashcards
History and Basic Info
4th largest wine producer
First modern winery with v. vinifera in 1961 near Roseburg. Brought the state to attention to David Lett, who in 1966 planted 5ha of Pinot in the Dundee Hills in northern Willamette Valle. Many followed .
1979 Lett’s 1975 Eyrie Vineyards Reserve Pinot was awarded 10th place in a Gault-Millau Wine Olympics blind tasting against wines from around the world. Robert Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhin organized a rematch at which the 1975 Eyrie took second place to Drouhin’s 59 Chambolle-Musigny. Drouhin later purchased land in Oregon and estd Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Willamette. More Burgundians have followed.
15 AVA’s in the state and 4 cross border over 13,750 ha planted. Dominated by small family owned businesses; some fifth gen. No of wineries increased 5x over past 20 yrs.
Cimate
Most are in the western part of the state just inland from the Pacific.
Coastal range provides some but not toatl protection from Pacific influence. Cool to moderate climate a combo of latitude (41 - 46N) and cold ocean currents and winds from the ocean.
Long daylight hours in the summer and autumn aid ripening.
Soils and rain
Free draining marine sedimentary, volcanic, loess are found.
Most have high levels of rain but these fall mainly in winter with little during growing months. Willamette gets 1000 mm on avg but only 200 from April to Sept.
Vineyard Management
Wind and dry summers reduce mildew and disease pressure and enable sustainable practices.
47% of vineyards are sustainable and 35% of all Demeter Biodynamic vineyards in the US are in Oregon.
Other programs include: Oregon Tilth, Salmon Safe, LIVE (low input viticulture and enology), Certified Sustainable and Deep Roots Coalition.
Grapes
Pinot Noir 58%
Pinot Gris second but decreasing in favor of Chard.
Syrah, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Riesling
Clonal Selection, espec for Pinot and Chard is important. Traditional Pinot clones were Wadenswill and Pommard. Intro of Dijon clones in late 80s gave more diversity to choose those suited to climate and soil and style. Now all three used with some blending and some single.
For Chard original clones were Wente and Clone 108 (from California). They were difficult to ripen in cool Oregon. Earlier ripening Dijon clones increased diversity and ability to match site with style.
On the back of warmer vintages, Dijon is sometimes ripening too early and some producers are returning to California clones.
Winemaking
In general use of whole bunches has increased recently.
Some use ambient yeast and are exploring alternative storage and fermentation vessels (incl amphora). Majority matured in oak with new oak decreasing.
Generally med plus acid; med to med plus tannin, often high alcohol. Red cherry and raspberry to black cherry and plum. Good to outstanding and prem with some super. Bergstrom Estate and Evening Land.
Pinot Gris in dry and off dry with trend to dry. Ranges from whole bunch pressing and cool ferment in stainless for fruity style to skin contact, old barrels and lees for complexity and texture. Med to full body, med to med plus acid, pear peach and melon sometimes with nutty and honey. Good to very and mid.
Chard med plus acid and body with fruit of lemon and peach. Whole bunch pressing with fermentation and maturation in oak, usually old. Full MLF and lees are common. Usually no stirring for low levels of reductive sulfur compounds giving a smoky struck match note. Good to very good and mid to prem.
Wine Regions
Oregon has 19 AVA’s.
Willamette Valley AVA has 7 sub AVA’s and contains 69% of all the vineyards.
The Southern Oregon AVA has five sub AVA’s and 24% of all vineyards.
Three multi-state AVA’s cross the Oregon Washington border: Columbia Gorge, Columbia Valley, and Walla Walla Valley (with one sub). The Snake River Valley AVA crosses Oregon and Idaho.
Willamette Valley AVA
9,600 ha and Oregon’s largest AVA with 7 sub AVA’s (Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill-Carlton District, Van Duzer Corridor, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville). Over 500 wineries.
Western part of Oregon only 50 miles form coast. Coast Range mountains on the west which provide some protection, but some parts are impacted by cold Pacific winds.
One of the coolest and wettest parts of Oregon but with a warm dry growing season with long sunshine hours. Diurnal range is high. Air rises inland and sucks in cool ocean air. Particularly strong early in the day and in Van Duzer Corridor, Eola-Amity Hills, and McMinnville. Lack of humidity means temps can rise and fall quickly.
Many do not irrigate. Law prevents all but oldest producers from taking water from rivers. For many it is too expensive.
Diverse soils. Fertile loam on valley floors left by Columbia Gorge floods thousands of years ago. These are good for Pinot Gris and if Pinot Noir need big vine trellising to manage vigor. At higher altitudes mix of marine sedimentary (i.e. sandstone), volcanic basalt, and loess. These are lower in fertility. Here cordon or replacement cane VSP.
Dundee Hills AVA
Where state’s first Pinot’s planted.
Series of volcanic hills running north to south with lateral ridges running east to west.
Vineyards at 60 - 325m. Higher than rest of Willamette helping to retain acidity.
Temps warmer than rest of Willamette as is buffered on west by Coast Range and to north by Chehalem Mountains.
Highest proportion of red iron-rich clay formed from volcanic basalt. Clay important in retaining water during summer months (little to no access to irrigation). Avoid vines shutting down and ensure full ripeness.
Chehalem Mountains AVA
Defined by a ridge in northern Willamette Valley. 20 miles in length and 5 wide stretching from southeast to northwest.
Includes several discrete spurs, mountains and ridges. Vineyards at 60 - 305m. The highest point of the ridge at 500m acts as a windbreak.
Range of altitudes, aspects, soils (loess, volcanic basalt, sedimentary) creates a diversity of sites.
Most plantings of any sub-AVA and a large number of wineries.
Ribbon Ridge AVA
Smallest AVA in Willamette. An island like ridge rising to 200m from the Chehalem floor in the west of the Chehalem Mountain AVA.
Vineyards are low in elevation and protected from the wind by surrounding ranges for consistent dry growing seasons.
Sedimentar soil is relatively deep, but low in nutrients helping to control vigor. Moderate water holding capacity which is needed as irrigation is not readily available. Concentrated ripe grapes.
Yamhill-Carlton District AVA
South facing bowl containing a series of horseshoe shaped eroded hills made of ancient sedimentary soil.
970ha; vast majority Pinot.
In northwest of Willamette Valley and sits in the foothills of the Coast Range which forms a rain shadow over the area.
South facing slopes (60 - 300m); warm free draining sedimentary soils, and sheltered nature leads to ripe fruit flavors, fuller body and lower acidity than other sub-AVA’s.
Van Duzer Corridor AVA
Towards southwest of the Willamette.
A break in the Coast Range funnels in Pacific winds in the afternoon cooling during the warmest part of the day.
Winds can disrupt flowering and fruit set. Cause stomata to shut slowing ripening. Helps retain acidity and slow sugar accum while flavors develop. Reduces disease pressure.
Soils are marine sediment loam and silt; shallow and well draining.
Eola-Amity Hills AVA
Ridge of north to south hills of shallow rocky volcanic basalt over sedimentary soil.
Located east of Van Duzer Corridor. The hillside vineyards (75 - 250m) are influenced by the same cool breezes leading to slower ripening.
Range of aspects and altitudes for greater variation in how much they are impacted by winds. Some warmer more sheltered sites.
McMinnville AVA
Between Yamhill-Carlton to the north and Van Duzer to the south. Influenced by both.
Some are protected by Coast Range rain shadow whereas in the south more impacted by cool winds from Van Duzer.
