Of Oregon’s roughly 44,500 acres of wine grapes, only an estimated 150 acres are devoted to growing Sauvignon Blanc. While that sounds infinitesimal, and it is, that acreage is more than double the 70 acres of Sauvignon Blanc grown here just six years ago. About five of those 150 acres, or 3% of Oregon’s total, are found in our own vineyards at King Estate (2.8) and Pfeiffer (2.3), with more coming from our vineyard partners including Croft Vineyard in Dallas, Ore., one of the state’s most distinguished sites for Sauvignon Blanc. The 2023 King Estate Croft Pinot Gris is one of the wines in our upcoming Tower Club release (https://kingestate.com/club/).
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay comprise 80% of the varieties grown in Oregon; Sauvignon Blanc is less than 1%. Yet the numbers belie Sauvignon Blanc’s growing popularity and the upward trend nationally and here in Oregon. At King Estate we have been producing a Willamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc from Croft since 2013 and, since 2018, we’ve made an Oregon-appellated one, the first from the state to be distributed nationally.
King Estate’s unique bond with Croft
Croft has a special place in the hearts of our winemaking team and the King family. The Croft and King families first crossed paths in the 1970s, when Ed King and Chancy Croft both practiced law in Alaska. Chancy bought the vineyard that bears his name in 1985. Ten years later King Estate began purchasing fruit from Croft, a relationship that endures to this day. King Estate Director of Viticulture Ray Nuclo was Croft’s Vineyard Manager for seven years before joining King Estate in 2013. According to Ray, Sauvignon Blanc is akin to Pinot Noir in that its terroir – where it was grown – shows in the finished wine. Croft Sauvignon Blanc features minerality and richness similar to wines of the Sancerre region in France’s Loire Valley.
Sauvignon Blanc from King Estate may be purchased at https://kingestate.com/shop/?varietal[]=sauvignon-blanc. While you’re there, check out the other wines we offer for your own enjoyment or to give as a gift. Tis the season!
