Guide to Oregon Wineries
Yamhill-Carlton
This sub-appellation in the Willamette Valley AVA is all about the soil. (Actually, all the appellations in Willamette Valley require a primer on “the soil”.) The volcanic & marine sediment provides a quick draining soil that pinot noir grapes thrive on. Combine that with the influence of the Pacific Ocean breezes, and mother nature delivers a lower acid wine that is easy on the palate. And don’t pass on the roses - everywhere in Willamette Valley we tasted roses that were purposeful wines, rather than afterthoughts we are all most accustomed to.
We've visited many wineries in this region, and you can explore all of them by clicking here!
Dundee Hills
The soil in this appellation is called Jory (primarily volcanic basalt), which provides the best drainage a grapevine could ask for. Hence, pinot noir loves this area. The location protects the vineyards from serious swings in daily temperature, and rainfall primarily occurs during the non-growing season. The early ripening pinot noir grapes thrive here, so even though you can find other varietals, remember that pinot noir is what you came to Oregon for! Expect a bit of minerality to accompany the fruit which is uncharacteristic of grapes grown in areas such as Russian River Valley.
We have several favorite wineries that we've visited in the area, and you can find out more details on each of the wineries here!
Chehalem Mountains
The mountains provide a range of elevations on which to grow grapes, which means that ripening in the late summer can highly vary from year to year. The soil is a mish-mash of marine sedimentary, lava flow and glacial sediment. There is a long history of pinot noir grapes being grown here, and the climate provides the growers with many opportunities to produce a variety of styles. Nearby is the Ribbon Ridge sub-AVA, which is comprised of Willakenzie type soil and a very moderate climate. Be sure to taste some pinots from this region if you get a chance.
We have several favorite wineries that we've visited in the area, and you can find out more about them by clicking here!
The Winery at Manzanita
Nestled in the touristy town of Manzanita along the Oregon coast, we found a little gem of a winery. This place produces small batch, high quality pinot noir (along with several other varietals) that really should be recognized more broadly. The dog-friendly venue is great fun with an open-air café, Adirondack chairs around fire pits facing the street and small bites to go along with a range of beverages. If you are in the area, be sure to visit. This winery isn't part of any of the other Oregon AVAs that we visited, but we didn't want to pass up the opportunity to showcase this local gem.
