Place
The Eola-Amity Hills offer the soils, elevations, climatic conditions, and aspects required to grow compelling Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Across our two estate vineyards is a community of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines representing a dozen selections or clones for each variety. The goal is to blend the grapes in the vineyard rather than in the cellar. In total, we tend to 20 acres of Chardonnay vines and 7 acres of Pinot Noir vines planted at roughly 2,000 vines to the acre.
The relationship between soil characteristics and viticultural performance is fundamentally linked to wine quality. Among the most important factors in this relationship are soil drainage and topography. Well-drained soils support deeper and more extensive root systems, enhance oxygen availability in the root zone, and promote vine health and resilience. Topography and aspect also play a role in defining vineyard character. Sloped sites that capture the warmth of the morning sun and encourage effective air drainage help moderate temperature fluctuations, enabling a more precise expression of the soil's influence below ground.
Our Eola-Amity Hills vineyards reflect these defining traits, providing an ideal setting for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as expressive and refined as their Burgundian inspirations.
Soil:
The soils here are basaltic in origin, formed from ancient volcanic flows that weathered into rocky, well-drained profiles. While the deep clay-loam Jory series of basaltic derived soils is among the Willamette Valley's most recognized soil type, the shallower Gelderman and Nekia series are more prevalent in our area. These soils limit vine vigor, promoting fruit with remarkable purity and an elevated natural acidity.
Climate:
Our vineyards benefit from cool, maritime influences carried inland through the Van Duzer Corridor - a gap in the Coast Range that channels refreshing Pacific air across the region. This steady breeze keeps afternoon temperatures moderate while slightly warming the nights compared to areas beyond its reach. The result is a gentle diurnal shift that allows the fruit to ripen gradually, both day and night. Such slow, consistent maturation promotes fruit that achieves full physiological ripeness with remarkable balance and depth.
Grape Selections:
When we consider vineyard producing compelling wine, we find that they are not merely riper but more expressive, layered and complex wines. In this way, we have come to value the composition of a vineyard over what happens in the winery.
The field selections in our vineyards are the result of years of hands-on winemaking evaluation and serve as a cornerstone of our viticultural philosophy. Collected over many years from esteemed vineyards, nurseries and discreet importations, this community of vines embodies the diversity and character necessary to express our sites with both transparency and distinction.
Farming:
Our farming begins with higher-density plantings and relies of sustainable L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture Environment) or organic practices that foster a natural balance within each site. Because the growing season is relatively compressed, winter pruning decisions, early canopy management - lateral shoot and cluster removal and targeted leafing - become critical decisions in ensuring the crop reaches full, even ripeness. These practices help the canopy and fruit receive the right amount of sunlight and air circulation to promote ripening while reducing the risk of fungal disease. Additional passes during the growing season emphasize canopy balance and flavor uniformity within each vine, further reducing the crop where necessary to achieve the quality we seek.
Join Our Mailing List
Priority access to each new release begins here. Join our community today and your access to our new releases is secured.