Yamhill County
Winters Hill Vineyard
Lafayette, OR
Owners: Peter and Emily Gladhart
Acres: 35
Elevation: 535-730 feet
Year planted: 1990
Variety: Pinot Noir
Clone: Pommard
Trellis system: Scott Henry
Laurel Vineyard
Hillsboro, OR
Owners: John and Lynn Albin
Acres: 17
Elevation: 780-950 feet
Year planted: 1982
Variety: Pinot Noir
Clone: Pommard
Trellis: Geneva Double Curtain
Hyland Vineyard
McMinnville, OR
Owner(s): Jack Trenhaille
Acres: 100
Elevation: 450-750 feet
Years planted: 1972-1987
Varieties: Pinot Noir
Clone: Coury
Trellis: Vertical shoot position
Chardonnay Clone: 108
Trellis: Scott Henry, Geneva Double Curtain
Elk Cove Vineyard
Gaston, OR
Owners: The Campbell Family
Acres: 60
Elevation: 700-800 feet
Year planted: 1985
Variety: Chardonnay
Clone: Espiguette 352
Trellis: Vertical shoot position
Washington County
Dion Vineyard
Hillsboro, OR
Owners: Ron and JoAnne Johnson
Acres: 60
Elevation: 300- 480 feet
Years planted 1976-2001
Varieties: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Pinot clones: Upright (Gamay)
& Colmar 162
Chardonnay clone: 108
Trellis: Vertical shoot position
Lane County
Overman Vineyard
Cheshire, OR
Owner: Dana Overman
Acres: 11
Elevation: 750-850 feet
Years planted: 1982-84
Variety: Pinot Noir
Clones: Wadenswill, Pommard, Upright (Gamay)
Trellis: Vertical shoot position
Variety: Chardonnay
Clone: 108
Trellis: Lyre
Variety: Pinot Meunier
Trellis: Vertical shoot position
Douglas County
Rebecca's Vineyard
Yoncalla, OR
Owner: Sophie Lerro
Acres: 21
Elevation: 500-720 feet
Year planted: 1990
Variety: Pinot Noir
Clone: Upright
Trellis: Scott Henry
Variety: Chardonnay
Clones: 108, Draper
Trellis: Geneva Double Curtain |
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Selection is an essential feature of each of the many steps involved in making great sparkling wine.
Whether grapes are grown for sparkling wine or table wine, however, the quality of the fruit is the
most important single determinant of wine quality. All wines begin in the vineyard. Wines of silk
quality simply cannot be made from sows' ears. Our goal is to produce the finest silk-equivalent of
sparkling wines! Since we will continue to make all of our wines from purchased grapes until our own vineyard
comes into production, it is crucial that we select the right growers for our grapes.
In our rigorous efforts to respect the traditional approaches established in Champagne, France and
followed meticulously by our winemaker Jean-Louis Denois, we have sought growers of Pinot Noir,
Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier with whom we can collaborate to assure that the fruit we purchase
matches our specific needs. To produce a spectrum of base wines for our sparkling wine Cuvées
that reflects their place, we want different clones of these varieties grown at cooler sites
from many geographically distinct locations. This critical process of vineyard selection will
contribute to the complexity and nuanced flavors of our finished wines when they are ready for
release years later. Since we seek delicacy in our wines and subtle rather overt expressions of
varietal character and flavors, we have encouraged our growers to increase their yield size per
acre particularly with the 108 and Draper clones of Chardonnay. This approach is the opposite of
what is desired for making high quality table wines that emphasize expression of fruit and variety.
Consistent with our approach to making sparkling wine, we also have carefully selected growers of
Pinot Noir for our table wine. We prefer a distinctive style in our Pinot Noir. We believe there
is a place in Oregon for a Cotes de Beaune equivalent — a wine more like a Pommard or Volnay
than a Chambolle-Musigny or Chambertin. To this end we have so far worked with growers of older vines
planted to Pommard, Colmar, and Wadenswill clones of Pinot Noir, preferring moderate rather than low
yields per acre. Our 2002 Pinot Noir is made from these three clones grown on vines more than twenty
years old in three different counties.
We will use Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes from the 22 acres we have so far planted at our own
Discovery Vineyard when it comes into production in 2005 for both our table and sparkling wines. To
meet our production goals and commitment to both site and clonal diversity of grapes sources, however,
we will continue to purchase grapes from the growers listed on the left with whom we have established
relationships since 1998. Not included in the list of our recent growers are two vineyards in Marion
County from whom we have purchased Chardonnay (Temperance Hill Vineyard, Eola Hills Vineyard), and one
in Lane County (Dylan's Run) that was a source of Pinot Noir. |