Vineyard

The vineyard is on a 20 acres site in the Chehalem Mountains between four and five hundred feet of elevation facing south towards the Red Hills of Dundee.  The land was purchased in 1999; rock and stump clearing began immediately and 5.2 acres of Pinot Noir vines were planted over the next two years.  An early-ripening and de-vigorating rootstock (Riperia Gloire) was chosen on which Pommard, 777 and D115 clones were grafted.  The site is south facing and has deep Jory soil making it very vigorous and nearly always the first to harvest in this AVA.  The initial goals have been met but more remains to be accomplished.  The vineyard will be expanded to ~12 ½ acres and will include other varieties in addition to Pinot Noir.

We believe that winemaking begins and ends in the vineyard.  Vineyard management is focused on restraining vigor to help fruit reach the optimum balance between ripeness and sugar that will result in alcohol at moderate levels but still retain intense fruit flavors.  Farming practices are organic and sustainable. Both the vineyard and winery are a part of the LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) program and “Certified Sustainable” and “Salmon Safe” logos will be on 2008 labels.