Oregon Wine: An Introduction

1. AN INTRODUCTION

2. THE SECRET’S OUT:
OREGON IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY
PLACE FOR WINE.
“I can’t help but conclude that
Oregon is right now the single
most exciting winemaking area
in the United States.”
- ERIC ASIMOV
New York Times 2017
2

3. CONTENTS
Industry History............................................4
Oregon Wine at a Glance........................10
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHTS
Willamette Valley .....................................12
Southern Oregon ......................................13
Columbia Gorge..........................................14
Walla Walla Valley.....................................15
Plan Your Trip...............................................18
3

4. INDUSTRY HISTORY
INDUSTRY HISTORY
Like veterans of the Oregon Trail who came here with grit,
determination and a sense of daring, Oregon’s winemakers
are pioneers — bucking trends, setting new ones and working
collaboratively to raise the bar.
4

5. The Great Migration North
Oregon’s early wine pioneers are part dreamers
and part determined trail blazers, unconcerned
about what the critics say can’t be done. This has
been the history of the Oregon wine industry,
characterized by an often-irrational determination
to prove the skeptics wrong and do the
“impossible.”
THE FIRSTS
1961 winemaker Richard Sommer planted Riesling, Oregon’s
first Pinot noir and Chardonnay.
1965 - 1968 David Lett, Charles Coury and Dick Erath were
the first in the Willamette Valley to plant Pinot noir, Pinot gris,
Chardonnay, and Riesling.
In just 50 years, Oregon has evolved into a world-class
winegrowing region with more than 700 wineries. It will always
be a place where small, handcrafted wines dominate, where
collaboration and community are ingrained in the culture.
INDUSTRY HISTORY
INDUSTRY HISTORY
5

6. 1965
Defying conventional
wisdom, but convinced that
Burgundian varieties were
better suited to Oregon than
California, UC Davis classmates
David Lett and Charles Coury
separately make their way to
Oregon and root the first
Pinot noir vines in the
Willamette Valley.
1977
Oregon’s winemakers join
together to propose adoption of
the strictest wine labeling
regulations in the country. These
innovative regulations protect
the purity of variety and source
of wines produced in Oregon.
1961
After a long dry spell following
Prohibition, Richard Sommer
launches the modern era of
Oregon winegrowing with
plantings at HillCrest Vineyard in
the Umpqua Valley.
Early 1970s
The Willamette Valley's
now-famous founders were
once intrepid explorers - the
Erath, Sokol Blosser, Adelsheim,
Campbell and Ponzi families
establish their first vineyards.
1973
Oregon Senate Bill 100, the Land
Conservation and Development Act,
passes, protecting agricultural land
from suburban sprawl.
Thanks to forward-thinkers from the
blossoming Oregon wine industry,
hillsides perfect for wine grapes
were included in the protection.
1972
The Wisnovsky family revives Peter
Britt’s historic property, establishing
the first commercial vineyard and
winery in the Rogue Valley. The
family honors Britt’s legacy by
retaining the original name of
Valley View.
INDUSTRY HISTORY
6

7. 1982
When Umpqua Valley vintner
H. Scott Henry notices a rapid
decline in fruit quality in his
vineyard, he takes matters
into his own hands and
designs an innovative
vine-trellising system to give
grapes greater sun exposure.
The Scott Henry Trellis
System is soon adopted by
vineyards around the world.
Lonnie Wright purchases and
revives The Pines, a
century-old Zinfandel
vineyard on the Oregon side
of the Columbia Gorge,
sparking a rebirth in
winegrowing in that region.
1984
The Umpqua Valley
becomes the first AVA
in Southern Oregon to
gain approval.
Two AVAs spanning the
Oregon-Washington
border are established:
The Columbia Valley
and the Walla Walla
Valley.
1985
Expert judges pick
Willamette Valley Pinot
noirs as the top three
wines at the Burgundy
Challenge, conceived by
confident Oregon
winemakers and hosted
at the International Wine
Center in New York.
Wine Spectator and The
New York Times pick up
the story of Oregon’s
success.
1983
Nine Willamette Valley vintners
get together to form the Yamhill
County Wineries Association and
open their winery doors for the
first “Thanksgiving Weekend in
Wine Country,” now a beloved
tradition.
The Willamette Valley is officially
“on the map,” approved as
Oregon’s first American
Viticultural Area.
1988
Following the 1987 purchase
of 30 acres of land in the
Dundee Hills by the highly
respected Drouhin family of
Burgundy, France, Veronique
Drouhin makes Domaine
Drouhin Oregon’s first vintage.
1991
In recognition of some of
the most important
people in the industry, 18
Oregon wineries join
forces to plan the annual
¡Salud! Wine Barrel
Auction, raising funds to
provide free healthcare to
migrant vineyard workers.
1980
Burgundian vigneron Robert Drouhin
sponsors a blind tasting rematch of
the 1979 Olympiad, reconfirming the
evaluation of The Eyrie Vineyards 1975
Pinot noir.
The inaugural Steamboat Conference
takes place with winemakers
convening to learn from each other,
share best practices, offer constructive
critiques and “improve the breed” of
Pinot noir. This event, held in the
Umpqua Valley, has become an
annual tradition and celebration of
Oregon’s spirit of collaboration.
Fourth-generation farmer Casey
McClellan helps his dad plant Seven
Hills Vineyard, one of the first
commercial vineyards in the Walla
Walla Valley.
1979
Stunning results come in
from the Gault-Millau
Wine Olympiad in Paris:
The Eyrie Vineyards 1975
South Block Reserve
Pinot noir places in the
top 10 in a blind tasting
among the finest
Burgundies.
INDUSTRY HISTORY
7

8. INDUSTRY HISTORY
2002
Eco-friendly Carlton
Winemakers Studio
opens, embracing the
Oregon spirit of
collaboration as the
state's first co-op winery
facility. There are currently
13 winemakers working at
the Studio.
Oregon seemed inhabited by folks who often were of a stubbornly independent and even
renegade character, never quite convinced of the perceived wisdoms and blessings of the
wider world... all remaining in or coming to Oregon to seek or pursue some insistent,
uncontrollable and potentially soul-wrecking passion.
- CHANG-RAE LEE, Food & Wine
2004
Southern Oregon AVA is established,
encompassing the previously authorized
regions of the Umpqua, Rogue and
Applegate Valleys.
The Columbia Gorge AVA is established,
joining the Columbia Valley and Walla Walla
Valley as winegrowing regions shared with
Oregon’s northern neighbor Washington.
2016
A Chardonnay and Pinot
noir from the Willamette
Valley receive the coveted
number two and three
spots on Wine Spectator's
Top 100 Wines list.
2001
The Portland urban winemaking
scene is born in an inner southeast
industrial park, as Renee Neely and
Laurie Lewis launch Hip Chicks Do
Wine in an old warehouse. There
are now nearly twenty wineries
operating within Portland.
1997
A group of Oregon
vintners join up to form
eco-certification LIVE
(Low Impact Viticulture
and Enology). Today,
nearly 300 Oregon
wineries and vineyards
have committed to
meeting requirements
for third-party
certification of their
sustainability practices.
2017
Recent blockbuster vintages
have produced what critics and
winemakers alike are calling
“Oregon’s Golden Era,” in which
quality is at an all-time high,
demand comes from around the
globe, and our community is as
strong as ever.
2006
In 2002, winegrowers in the Willamette Valley
collaborated to submit their applications for
six new AVAs together in a single envelope in
an act of collegiality and respect for each
other's unique characteristics.
By 2006, all six north Willamette Valley AVAs
are approved.
8

9. MICHAEL CLAYPOOL, OWNER/WINEMAKER
CLAY PIGEON WINERY
Image: John Valls Photography
9

10. OR
CA
WA
ID
Oregon,
USA
45° N
OREGON AT A GLANCE
WINE GROWING REGIONS
OF OREGON
PACIFIC
OCEAN
CASCADERANGE
IDAHO
NEVADACALIFORNIA
WASHINGTON
SISKIYOUMTS
PORTLAND
SALEM
COASTRANGE
C OLU M
BI A
RIVER
1. Willamette Valley
2. Yamhill-Carlton
3. Chehalem Mountains
4. Ribbon Ridge
5. Dundee Hills
6. McMinnville
7. Eola-Amity Hills
8. Southern Oregon
9. Umpqua Valley
10. Red Hill Douglas County
11. Elkton Oregon
12. Rogue Valley
13. Applegate Valley
14. Columbia Gorge
15. Columbia Valley
16. Walla Walla Valley
17. The Rocks District
of Milton-Freewater
18. Snake River Valley
2
1
9
13
3
7
6
14
15
18
1011
12
16
17
4
8
5
10

11. OREGON AT A GLANCE
VINEYARDS
CLIMATE
Oregon's share of
Wine Spectator's
90+ scores on
domestic wine in
2015 and 2016
20%
45°
N
S
N
S
45°15+HRS
9HRS
DAYLIGHT HOURS
SUMMER WINTER
28,034 ACRES
(11,345 HA.)
PLANTED
TO VINE
NORTH
WILLAMETTE
VALLEY
57.6%
COLUMBIA GORGE,
WALLA WALLA &
OTHER BORDER
REGIONS
9.9%
UMPQUA
VALLEY
6.6%
ROGUE
VALLEY
15.5%
SOUTH
WILLAMETTE
VALLEY
10.0%
Pinot noir is the predominant variety grown in Oregon; however, the
state's diversity of geography and microclimates make it well-suited to
many different varieties.
The attention and care given by Oregon’s grapegrowers and winemakers from vine
to bottle are reflected in its consistently high-quality wines.
At 45°N, extra sunlight enables long, even ripening during the growing season. Crisp,
cool nights help grapes retain their refreshing acidity, resulting in world-class wines and
full varietal character.
Pinot noir
62.3%
All Others
14.4%
Syrah
2.2%
Riesling
2.6%
Chardonnay
5.6%
Pinot gris
12.9%
72Varieties of wine grapes
are grown in Oregon
28,034Acres planted with
vinifera vineyards
of vineyards
are certified
sustainable
47%
QUALITY
of Oregon
wineries
produce fewer
than 5,000
cases per year
70%of fine wine
produced in
the U.S. is
from Oregon
1%
A COMMUNITY OF SMALL, ARTISAN PRODUCERS GUARDIANS OF THE VINE
AVERAGE GROWING SEASON TEMPERATURE °F (°C)
CHAMPAGNE
COLUMBIA GORGE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
BURGUNDY
SOUTHERN OREGON
WALLA WALLA VALLEY
NAPA VALLEY
ALENTEJO
57.6°F
(14.2°C)
68.7°F
(20.4°C)
COOL-----------------HOT
What makes the wines so good? Start with the vines which seem to like Oregon's
combination of soils and climate. Growers and winemakers have climbed a steep learning
curve, largely while sharing their expertise with one another. They learned how to coax the
character and personality from grapes capable of greatness.
– HARVEY STEIMAN Wine Spectator
Sources: Average Growing Season Temperature - Jones, G.V., Reid, R., and Vilks, A. (2012); 2015 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Census Report; Wines & Vines (May 2014)
OREGON AT A GLANCE
VINEYARDS
CLIMATE
Oregon's share of
Wine Spectator's
90+ scores on
domestic wine in
2015 and 2016
20%
45°
N
S
N
S
45°15+HRS
9HRS
DAYLIGHT HOURS
SUMMER WINTER
30,435 ACRES
(12,317 HA)
PLANTED
TO VINE
WILLAMETTE
VALLEY
72%
SOUTHERN
OREGON
22%
COLUMBIA
GORGE
2%
SNAKE
RIVER
<1%
WALLA WALLAY
VALLEY
4%
COLUMBIA
VALLEY
<1%
Pinot noir is the predominant variety grown in Oregon; however, the
state's diversity of geography and microclimates make it well-suited to
many different varieties.
The attention and care given by Oregon’s grapegrowers and winemakers from vine
to bottle are reflected in its consistently high-quality wines.
At 45°N, extra sunlight enables long, even ripening during the growing season. Crisp,
cool nights help grapes retain their refreshing acidity, resulting in world-class wines and
full varietal character.
72Varieties of wine grapes
are grown in Oregon
of vineyards
are certified
sustainable
47%
QUALITY
of Oregon
wineries
produce fewer
than 5,000
cases per year
70%of fine wine
produced in
the U.S. is
from Oregon
1%
A COMMUNITY OF SMALL, ARTISAN PRODUCERS GUARDIANS OF THE VINE
AVERAGE GROWING SEASON TEMPERATURE °F (°C)
CHAMPAGNE
COLUMBIA GORGE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
BURGUNDY
SOUTHERN OREGON
WALLA WALLA VALLEY
NAPA VALLEY
ALENTEJO
57.6°F
(14.2°C)
68.7°F
(20.4°C)
COOL-----------------HOT
Pinot noir
64%
All Others
11%
Cabernet
2%
Syrah
2%
Riesling
3%
Chardonnay
6%
Pinot gris
13%
What makes the wines so good? Start with the vines which seem to like Oregon's
combination of soils and climate. Growers and winemakers have climbed a steep
learning curve, largely while sharing their expertise with one another. They learned
how to coax the character and personality from grapes capable of greatness.
– HARVEY STEIMAN, Wine Spectator
Sources: Average Growing Season Temperature - Jones, G.V., Reid, R., and Vilks, A. (2012); 2016 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Census Report; Wines & Vines (May 2014)
trade.oregonwine.org
11

12. CELEBRATED, RENOWNED,
EXQUISITE.
Oregon's Willamette Valley is,
at this point, synonymous with
glorious Pinot noir. No other grape
is as reflective of climatic and site
differences, and small distances in
the valley can yield wines of
distinctly different character, each
captivating in its own way.
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
TOP PLANTED VARIETIES
ESTABLISHED:
1983
TOTAL PLANTED AREA:
21,795 acres (8,820 ha)
72% of Oregon's land planted to vine
PREDOMINANT SOILS:
Marine sedimentary, volcanic, loess
Pinot noir 72%
All Others 4%
Chardonnay 7%
Pinot gris 14%
I-5
Willamette
R
iver
SALEM
EUGENE
PORTLANDPORTLAND
DUNDEE HILLS
CHEHALEM MOUNTAINS
EOLA-AMITY HILLS
RIBBON RIDGE
YAMHILL-CARLTON
MCMINNVILLE
Pinot blanc 1%
Riesling 2%
12

13. SOUTHERN OREGON
A REGION OF
DISCOVERY AND
EXPERIMENTATION.
With five AVAs defined by four rivers
and three major mountain ranges,
Southern Oregon produces a wide
range of outstanding wines. No
wonder many writers are talking
about this region as Oregon’s
“next big thing.”
SOUTHERN OREGON
RED HILL
DOUGLAS COUNTY
APPLEGATE VALLEY
I-5
UMPQUA VALLEY
ELKTON OREGON
ROGUE VALLEY
ESTABLISHED:
2005
TOTAL PLANTED AREA:
6,650 acres (2,690 ha)
22% of Oregon's land planted to vine
PREDOMINANT SOILS:
Marine sedimentary, alluvial gravels, volcanic
TOP PLANTED VARIETIES
Pinot noir 54%
Pinot gris 11%
Syrah 5%
Tempranillo 4%
Merlot 3%
Chardonnay 4%
Cabernet
Sauvignon 3%
Riesling 4%
Other 12%
13

14. A WORLD OF WINE IN 40 MILES
From the high desert-like east to the
cooler, wetter west, so many different
grapes thrive in this dramatic region, from
Arneis to Zinfandel.
COLUMBIA GORGE
TERROIR
• Elevation of vineyard sites range from sea level to 2,000 feet (610 m), greatly
impacting temperature of vineyard sites.
• Climate transitions from maritime on the western end to continental on
the eastern end in only 40 miles (65 km).
WINE
Wines tend to be riper than cooler western regions, with more acidity and
structure than what occurs naturally in the warmer eastern AVAs.
PREDOMINANT VARIETIES:
Many different varieties thrive,
varies by geography and elevation
ESTABLISHED:
2004
PLANTED AREA:
1,300 acres (525 ha)
PREDOMINANT SOILS:
Volcanic, lahar, loess,
silt, sand
COLUMBIA GORGECOLUMBIA GORGE
About 75 minutes due east of Portland, this is the heart of the Columbia Gorge,
one of the world's most climatically diverse places. Here, the mighty Columbia
River cleaves Washington from Oregon. This is an astonishingly fertile spot for
wine. Among the area's 30 wineries you'll find some of the Northwest's most
daring winemakers, many committed to organic and biodynamic farming.
- JON BONNÉ, San Francisco Chronicle
OREGON
HOOD RIVER
Columbia River
14
35
WASHINGTON
14

15. WALLA WALLA VALLEY
WALLA WALLA VALLEY
OREGON’S BEST-KEPT SECRET
Named for the eponymous town in
Washington, the Walla Walla Valley crosses
state borders. About one-third of its land
lies in Oregon, home to vineyards that
produce some of the region’s most
celebrated wines.
Walla Walla River
Dry Creek
TouchetRiver
WallaWallaRiver
11
WALLA WALLA
WASHINGTON
OREGON
WALLA WALLA
VALLEY
MILTON-
FREEWATER
THE ROCKS DISTRICT
OF MILTON-FREEWATER
TERROIR
• Located far from the marine influences of the Pacific Ocean, it is
the warmest growing region in Oregon.
• Large diurnal range in temperatures preserve acidity in grapes.
• Micro-climates in the foothills of the Blue Mountains allow for
many different Bordeaux and Rhône varieties to thrive.
WINE
Warm growing season temperatures, cool nights and low rainfall
lead to complex, full-bodied wines.
PREDOMINANT VARIETIES:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah,
Merlot
ESTABLISHED:
1984
PLANTED AREA:
2,835 acres (1,150 ha)
PREDOMINANT SOILS:
Volcanic, Missoula flood
sediments, loess, cobbles
WALLA WALLA VALLEY
UPDATED 9.1.17
Merlot 18%
TOP PLANTED VARIETIES
Cabernet
Sauvignon
38%
Syrah 17%
Petit Verdot 3%
Cabernet Franc 6%
Malbec 4%
Other 14%
AVERAGE GROWING SEASON TEMPERATURE °F (°C)
CHAMPAGNE
COLUMBIA GORGE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
BURGUNDY
SOUTHERN OREGON
WALLA WALLA VALLEY
NAPA VALLEY
ALENTEJO
57.6°F
(14.2°C)
68.7°F
(20.4°C)
COOL---------------------------------------------HOT
OREGON’S BEST-KEPT SECRET
Named for the eponymous town in
Washington, the Walla Walla Valley crosses
state borders. About one-third of its land
lies in Oregon, home to vineyards that
produce some of the region’s most
celebrated wines.
WALLA WALLA VALLEY
Walla Walla River
Dry Creek
TouchetRiver
WallaWallaRiver
11
WALLA WALLA
WASHINGTON
OREGON
WALLA WALLA
VALLEY
MILTON-
FREEWATER
THE ROCKS DISTRICT
OF MILTON-FREEWATER
TERROIR
• Located far from the marine influences of the Pacific Ocean, it is
the warmest growing region in Oregon.
• Large diurnal range in temperatures preserve acidity in grapes.
• Micro-climates in the foothills of the Blue Mountains allow for
many different Bordeaux and Rhône varieties to thrive.
WINE
Warm growing season temperatures, cool nights and low rainfall
lead to complex, full-bodied wines.
PREDOMINANT VARIETIES:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah,
Merlot
ESTABLISHED:
1984
PLANTED AREA:
3,000 acres (1,200 ha)
PREDOMINANT SOILS:
Volcanic, Missoula flood
sediments, loess, cobbles
For me, the most distinctive terroir in America is one of the newest AVAs:
The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. The wines from these vines, planted on
dramatically stony soils, sing a whole chorus of unmistakable aromatics and
flavors, and make some of the greatest wines in America — and, by the way,
it’s on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA.
- HARVEY STEIMAN, Wine Spectator
15

16. BRITTAN VINEYARDS CREW
Image: Carolyn Wells Kramer
16

17. I can’t think of another region that
is producing such a compelling
collection of pure, vibrant, varietally
correct wines that excite the palate
and please the pocketbook.
– GREGORY DAL PIAZ
Snooth
17

18. KEEP READING »
Order your free copy of the official Oregon
Wine Touring Guide, or view it online anytime.
18

19. PLAN YOUR TRIP »
To plan your next Oregon wine trip, search more than 500 tasting
room listings by location, grape variety and features such as
biodynamic wines, dog friendly tasting rooms, outdoor seating
and one dozen more.
VISIT.OREGONWINE.ORG
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20. OREGONWINE.ORG
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