Willamette Valley / Southern Oregon Flashcards
What % of grapes must be from a stated AVA?
95%
If a label indicates a specific AVA, minimum 95% of the grapes must be from the stated AVA.
Exceptions to this rule apply to wines declaring cross-border AVAs, such as the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Gorge, for which AVA labeling may follow laws of either state. Washington State follows the TTB’s guidelines of 85%. However, 100% of the grapes must come from the two states.
What % of wine must be from a declared varietal?
90% or more of the wine must be from the declared grape varietal
Which grapes are exempt from the varietal minimum?
18 grape varieties exempted from Oregon’s 90% minimum requirement for varietal labeling and allowed to be blended with up to 25% other varieties. Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo and Zinfandel.
2 founders of Willamette Valley
David Lett and Charles Koury
When was PN introduced to Willamette Valley, and by who?
David Lett brought Pinot Noir to the valley in 1965 establishing the original Eyrie Vineyard in Dundee Hills.
Main soil types
- Uplifted marine sediment (Willakenzie)
- Volcanic or Jory
- Laurelwood (Basalt base with loess)
- Loess
- Missoula flood deposits
Most vines are planted between these elevations
200 ft - 800-900 ft (which is generally the max for quality PN)
Common vine training
Guyot and trellising in most vineyards.
Common PN clones of Willamette Valley
- Wädenswil (Eyrie vyd)
- Pommard (lusher darker fruit and spice)
- Dijon (made avail 1988 by David Adelsheim)
Most densely planted AVA
Dundee Hills AVA
Most common soil of Dundee Hills AVA
Red Jory
(producing delicate and perfumed wines)
Main producers of Dundee Hills
The Eyrie Vineyards, Domaine Serene, Domaine Drouhin, Archery Summit, Stoller, Sokol Blosser
Notable single vineyards of Dundee Hills AVA
Eyrie Vineyard, Maresh Vineyard, Abbey Ridge Vineyard, Thomas Vineyard.
What are the 2 natural features providing a rain shadow from the Pacific?
Coast Range
Chehalem Mountains
Top Yamhill Carlton AVA producers
Soter, Bergstrom, Ken Wright, Penner Ash, Elk Cove
What is Yamhill Carlton AVA’s most famous vineyard?
Shea Vineyard
Sub AVA’s of Chehalem Mountains AVA
Ribbon Ridge AVA
Laurelwood District AVA
Highest elevation location in the valley
Bald Peak -1,633 feet
Located in Chehalem Mtns AVA
Smallest AVA in the valley
Ribbon Ridge AVA
(but densley planted)
Producers- Beaux Freres, Brick House
Chehalem Mountains AVA
pioneer
Dick Erath planted the first vineyards here in 1968
Producers- Erath, Ardiri, Ponzi, Adelsheim
Describe “Laurelwood Soil”
Laurelwood soil is composed of basalt base with loess (windblown silt)
Eola-Amity Hills AVA notable producers/vineyards
Producers- Evening Land, Brooks, Walter Scott
Vineyards- Carter Vineyard-owned by Ken Wright (Nekia Soil found here)
Seven Springs, Jerusalem Hill, Roserock, X-Novo
Describe Van Duzer Corridor AVA
Cold winds from the Pacific blow through the region. Lower elevation with marine sedimentary soil. Winds help the grapes to develop thicker skins resulting in increased color and tannins. The wind also helps to dry out the vineyards after the rains, making them less prone to disease and reducing reliance on chemical sprays.
Producers- Johan Vineyards, Van Duzer, Firesteed
What is Nekia soil?
Nekia Soil is comprised of marine sediments and alluvial deposits mixed by the Missoula Floods.
Most commonly found in Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is the soil found in Carter Vineyard.
Describe Jory soil
Volcanic clay
Contains a high proportion of clay and therefore has a higher water holding capacity.
Wines tend to have a lighter color and a more red fruit profile.
Describe Willakenzie soil
Sedimentary Marine
A mix of marine sediment and alluvial soil from the Missoula floods.
Describe Loess soil as it pertains to the Willamette Valley
Windblown soil is anchored onto many northeast facing hillsides of the northern valley. Reddish silt soil is often intermixed with basalt-derived soils and marine sediments, rather than fertile flood sediments.
AVA’s within Southern Oregon AVA
Umpqua Valley AVA - Sub AVA’s: Red Hill Douglas County, Elkton Oregon AVA
Rogue Valley AVA - Sub AVA: Applegate Valley AVA
Sub AVA’s of Umpqua Valley AVA
Elkton Oregon AVA
Red Hill Douglas County AVA
Sub AVA of Rogue Valley AVA
Applegate Valley AVA
Where were Oregon’s first vines planted?
Umpqua Valley AVA
PN vines were planted here in 1961 by Richard Sommer and established the state’s oldest winery, Hillcrest Vineyards.
Name the 3 mountain ranges directly affecting the Umpqua Valley AVA
The Coast Range, the Klamath Mountains and the Cascades.
What is the highest elevation for viticulture in Oregon, and where?
2,000 feet making it the highest elevation for viticulture in Oregon, located in Applegate Valley AVA
Describe Snake River AVA
Shared with Idaho on Oregon’s eastern edge. The sub AVA is Eagle Foothills AVA which is on the Idaho side. Drastic diurnals.
Mostly Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Merlot, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay
Shared AVA’s between Oregon and Washington
Walla Walla Valley AVA
Columbia Valley AVA
Columbia Gorge AVA
Describe the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA
Located in Oregon, but within the larger Walla Walla Valley AVA which is encompassed by the Columbia Valley AVA.
Known as “The Rocks” and defined entirely by soil - the “Freewater Series” - Alluvial basalt cobblestones.
Most wines are vinifed in Washington so they must be labled as Walla Walla AVA but Cayuse who put the AVA on the map (and a few others) can label Rocks District of Milton-Freewater.
Oregon’s first AVA
Willamette Valley est. 1983
