Oregon

Question 1

What are characteristics of Oregon?

Answer 1

• mostly small production
• largest producer is King estate
• 47% of vineyards are organic
• techniques used mirror burgundy and Alsace
• wine must be 90%varietal to be labeled as such for pinot noir, pinot gris, and chardonnay
• can be only 75% for cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, tempranillo, zinfandel, and tannat to be labeled as such
• AVAs are divided into three categories: Northern OR, Southern OR, shared AVAs (with other states)

Question 2

What are the grapes of Oregon?

Answer 2

White:

Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Riesling

Red:

Pinot Noir (60%)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sangiovese
Tempranillo
Zinfandel
Tannat

Question 3

What are the shared AVAs of Oregon?

Answer 3

• Columbia Gorge (WA)
• Columbia Valley (WA)
• Walla Walla Valley (WA)
• Snake River Valley (ID)

Question 4

What are the AVAs of Northern Oregon?

Answer 4

• Willamette Valley
• Chehalem Mountain
• Yamhill-Carlton
• Ribbon Ridge
• Dundee Hills
• McMinnville
• Eola-Amity Hills

Question 5

What are the AVAs of Southern Oregon?

Answer 5

• Umqua Valley
• Redhills Douglas County
• Rouge Valley
• Applegate Valley
• Elkton Oregon

Question 6

What are characteristics of Willamette Valley?

Answer 6

• maritime and continental climate
• warm, dry summers
• Mt. Hood active volcano
• low fertility soils, w/low water holding capacity
• basalt bedrock, iron and calcium
• most wineries are on So or Ea. facing hillsides
• contains jory, willakenzie, loess, and flood/woodburn soils

Question 7

What are characteristics of jory soils?

Answer 7

• volcanic basalt
• found at 300-700’ on slopes
• taste: dusty earth, round cherry, elegant with earth and chocolate undertones

Question 8

What are characteristics of Willakenzie soils?

Answer 8

• maritime sedimentary
• moderate in depth and water retention
• feels like talcum, dry, brittle
• taste: black fruit, big aromas and flavors, dusty chocolate
• makes more powerful and structured wines

Question 9

What are characteristics of loess soils?

Answer 9

• ice age
• shallow, ashy, wind blown silt
• more nutrient soil, so pruning and green harvesting are key
• tastes: brighter red fruit, a bit earthy, maybe white pepper

Question 10

What are characteristics of flood/Woodburn soils?

Answer 10

• very fine, silty soils from the Misssoula floods
• pinot noir will have red fruits, strawberry to red cherry
• lighter in general with moderate to high tannins

Question 11

What are characteristics of Dundee Hills AVA?

Answer 11

• North to south ridge
• dotted with slopes and small valleys
• 85% JORY SOILS
• So. Ea. facing slopes similar to Cote D’Or
• delicate silky wines
• good acidity
• bright cherry
• shielded from climate variations

Question 12

What are characteristics of Eola-Amity Hills?

Answer 12

• Jory soils w/Willakenzie at lower elevations
• Van Duzer Corridor exposes western part to coastal breezes
• cool vintages
• blackberry, black cherry. plum w/firm structure

Question 13

What are characteristics of Chehelam?

Answer 13

• loess soils on NW flank
• three main OR soils are all present
• uplifted land mass
• more rainfall, more temperature variations
• ribbon ridge is a sub-AVA

Question 14

Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill-Carlton, and McMinnville share what soils type?

Answer 14

Willakenzie!!!

Question 15

What are characteristics of South Oregon AVA?

Answer 15

• warmer, drier, more like CA

* 40% less rain than Willamette

Question 16

What are characteristics of Umqua Valley?

Answer 16

• first pinot was planted here

* grows cool and warm climate grapes