Introducing our first Pinot Noir made with fruit from one of Oregon’s most storied vineyards, Chehalem Mountain. Established in 1968 by Oregon wine pioneer Dick Erath, this vineyard began on a 49-acre site on Dopp Road in Newberg. Almost 40 years later, in 2006, the Chehalem Mountains (with an “s”) AVA was established, creating some confusion but also affirming the significance of the mountain range to wine grape growing here. The AVA, just 20 miles long and five miles wide, is highly regarded for producing wines of intriguing complexity and intense red fruit flavors with great aging potential – in other words, classic Oregon Pinot Noir.
Chehalem Mountain is a 70-acre vineyard today and sits on the dividing line of the Ribbon Ridge and Chehalem Mountains AVAs. The site features well-drained soils that represent the three important hillside types: basaltic, ocean sedimentary and windblown loess from lakebed sediment. Loess is the predominant soil on the northern face of the Chehalem Mountains.
The Chehalem Mountains
The Chehalem Mountains are an uplifted mountain ridge that stretch across Yamhill, Washington and Clackamas counties. They encompass several discrete spurs, mountains and ridges including Bald Peak, the highest point within the Willamette Valley at 1,633 feet. With its deep ravines, high peaks and difficult terrain, the region is a challenging place to farm a vineyard but, despite the odds, vintners have persevered, knowing that the land can produce wines of unparalleled complexity and distinction.
What are the clones?
Our 2021 Chehalem Mountain Pinot Noir comprises 58% Dijon clones (115 and 943) and 42% Coury and Swan clones, known as heritage or “suitcase” clones because they were early arrivals to the state, before today’s stringent certification processes, so their lineage can’t be verified. While not from the vineyard’s original plantings, the grapes in this Pinot Noir nevertheless reflect their notable origin and proud Oregon pedigree.
