3. The Vineyard

We have dedicated a little over 15 acres on our farm to grape production, where we have planted 13 different grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Aligoté, Chenin Blanc, Savagnin, Godello, Mencía, Albariño, Arinto, Trousseau, Juan Garcia, Castelao). After considering each unique site characteristic, including a detailed soil analysis, we set out to create an iconic site where every detail - the architecture of the vine rows, the selection of the best-suited varietal and clonal selections, the vine training, the decision to plant varietals in particular places - was carefully designed to suit our farm.

Our first vines were planted in Fall 2017, and the rest were planted over the succeeding years. These varieties were selected carefully, narrowed down from a longer list of the varieties that we enjoy drinking.

We focused in on the grape varieties and clones we believed would excel in our climate and on our site. Many of the grape varieties we have selected have thrived in Northwest Spain, the Loire Valley and Jura. Early on, we were struck by the similarities between these places and the Willamette Valley in climate, rainfall, soil type, proximity to cold oceans and rivers, and forested mountain ranges. We wouldn’t have planted these varieties unless we were confident they could ripen and produce spectacular wine in the Willamette Valley, and our first few vintages have validated that belief.

We also believed it was important to select grape varieties that have demonstrated a degree of versatility. As our climate becomes drier, warmer and less predictable, we focused mostly on varieties with high natural acidity and complexity, which allow them to be made in a range of different styles that can be adjusted based on our local climate as well as vintage differences. That flexibility will also prove more resilient, not just vintage to vintage but also in the face of a changing climate and the needs of the workforce we partner with to produce our wines.

Once we finalized our list of grape varieties we were going to plant, we decided where to plant them based on a multitude of factors related to our property. Each variety was planted where we believed it would perform best, based on the soils, slope, aspect, elevation, amount of heat and sunlight, humidity and exposure to the persistent winds we typically see.

In a couple of cases, we have even done things that are unheard of in the Willamette Valley. For example, we have head trained a block of Gamay Noir and a block of Mencía. By training the vines in this method the fruiting zone hangs 360 degrees circling the vine. This is important to expose the fruit to all aspects of the sun collecting a spectrum of flavors from morning and evening sun exposure. The fruit also sees extra light this way which produces thick skins with concentrated tannins and color.