Willamette Valley / Southern Oregon

Question 1

What % of grapes must be from a stated AVA?

Answer 1

95%
If a label indicates a specific AVA, minimum 95% of the grapes must be from the stated AVA.
Exceptions to this rule apply to wines declaring cross-border AVAs, such as the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Gorge, for which AVA labeling may follow laws of either state. Washington State follows the TTB’s guidelines of 85%. However, 100% of the grapes must come from the two states.

Question 2

What % of wine must be from a declared varietal?

Answer 2

90% or more of the wine must be from the declared grape varietal

Question 3

Which grapes are exempt from the varietal minimum?

Answer 3

18 grape varieties exempted from Oregon’s 90% minimum requirement for varietal labeling and allowed to be blended with up to 25% other varieties. Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo and Zinfandel.

Question 4

2 founders of Willamette Valley

Answer 4

David Lett and Charles Koury

Question 5

When was PN introduced to Willamette Valley, and by who?

Answer 5

David Lett brought Pinot Noir to the valley in 1965 establishing the original Eyrie Vineyard in Dundee Hills.

Question 6

Main soil types

Answer 6

• Uplifted marine sediment (Willakenzie)
• Volcanic or Jory
• Laurelwood (Basalt base with loess)
• Loess
• Missoula flood deposits

Question 7

Most vines are planted between these elevations

Answer 7

200 ft - 800-900 ft (which is generally the max for quality PN)

Question 8

Common vine training

Answer 8

Guyot and trellising in most vineyards.

Question 9

Common PN clones of Willamette Valley

Answer 9

• Wädenswil (Eyrie vyd)
• Pommard (lusher darker fruit and spice)
• Dijon (made avail 1988 by David Adelsheim)

Question 10

Most densely planted AVA

Answer 10

Dundee Hills AVA

Question 11

Most common soil of Dundee Hills AVA

Answer 11

Red Jory
(producing delicate and perfumed wines)

Question 12

Main producers of Dundee Hills

Answer 12

The Eyrie Vineyards, Domaine Serene, Domaine Drouhin, Archery Summit, Stoller, Sokol Blosser

Question 13

Notable single vineyards of Dundee Hills AVA

Answer 13

Eyrie Vineyard, Maresh Vineyard, Abbey Ridge Vineyard, Thomas Vineyard.

Question 14

What are the 2 natural features providing a rain shadow from the Pacific?

Answer 14

Coast Range
Chehalem Mountains

Question 15

Top Yamhill Carlton AVA producers

Answer 15

Soter, Bergstrom, Ken Wright, Penner Ash, Elk Cove

Question 16

What is Yamhill Carlton AVA’s most famous vineyard?

Answer 16

Shea Vineyard

Question 17

Sub AVA’s of Chehalem Mountains AVA

Answer 17

Ribbon Ridge AVA
Laurelwood District AVA

Question 18

Highest elevation location in the valley

Answer 18

Bald Peak -1,633 feet
Located in Chehalem Mtns AVA

Question 19

Smallest AVA in the valley

Answer 19

Ribbon Ridge AVA
(but densley planted)
Producers- Beaux Freres, Brick House

Question 20

Chehalem Mountains AVA
pioneer

Answer 20

Dick Erath planted the first vineyards here in 1968
Producers- Erath, Ardiri, Ponzi, Adelsheim

Question 21

Describe “Laurelwood Soil”

Answer 21

Laurelwood soil is composed of basalt base with loess (windblown silt)

Question 22

Eola-Amity Hills AVA notable producers/vineyards

Answer 22

Producers- Evening Land, Brooks, Walter Scott
Vineyards- Carter Vineyard-owned by Ken Wright (Nekia Soil found here)
Seven Springs, Jerusalem Hill, Roserock, X-Novo

Question 23

Describe Van Duzer Corridor AVA

Answer 23

Cold winds from the Pacific blow through the region. Lower elevation with marine sedimentary soil. Winds help the grapes to develop thicker skins resulting in increased color and tannins. The wind also helps to dry out the vineyards after the rains, making them less prone to disease and reducing reliance on chemical sprays.
Producers- Johan Vineyards, Van Duzer, Firesteed

Question 24

What is Nekia soil?

Answer 24

Nekia Soil is comprised of marine sediments and alluvial deposits mixed by the Missoula Floods.

Most commonly found in Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is the soil found in Carter Vineyard.

Question 25

Describe Jory soil

Answer 25

Volcanic clay
Contains a high proportion of clay and therefore has a higher water holding capacity.
Wines tend to have a lighter color and a more red fruit profile.

Question 26

Describe Willakenzie soil

Answer 26

Sedimentary Marine
A mix of marine sediment and alluvial soil from the Missoula floods.

Question 27

Describe Loess soil as it pertains to the Willamette Valley

Answer 27

Windblown soil is anchored onto many northeast facing hillsides of the northern valley. Reddish silt soil is often intermixed with basalt-derived soils and marine sediments, rather than fertile flood sediments.

Question 28

AVA’s within Southern Oregon AVA

Answer 28

Umpqua Valley AVA - Sub AVA’s: Red Hill Douglas County, Elkton Oregon AVA

Rogue Valley AVA - Sub AVA: Applegate Valley AVA

Question 29

Sub AVA’s of Umpqua Valley AVA

Answer 29

Elkton Oregon AVA
Red Hill Douglas County AVA

Question 30

Sub AVA of Rogue Valley AVA

Answer 30

Applegate Valley AVA

Question 31

Where were Oregon’s first vines planted?

Answer 31

Umpqua Valley AVA
PN vines were planted here in 1961 by Richard Sommer and established the state’s oldest winery, Hillcrest Vineyards.

Question 32

Name the 3 mountain ranges directly affecting the Umpqua Valley AVA

Answer 32

The Coast Range, the Klamath Mountains and the Cascades.

Question 33

What is the highest elevation for viticulture in Oregon, and where?

Answer 33

2,000 feet making it the highest elevation for viticulture in Oregon, located in Applegate Valley AVA

Question 34

Describe Snake River AVA

Answer 34

Shared with Idaho on Oregon’s eastern edge. The sub AVA is Eagle Foothills AVA which is on the Idaho side. Drastic diurnals.

Mostly Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Merlot, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay

Question 35

Shared AVA’s between Oregon and Washington

Answer 35

Walla Walla Valley AVA
Columbia Valley AVA
Columbia Gorge AVA

Question 36

Describe the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA

Answer 36

Located in Oregon, but within the larger Walla Walla Valley AVA which is encompassed by the Columbia Valley AVA.
Known as “The Rocks” and defined entirely by soil - the “Freewater Series” - Alluvial basalt cobblestones.
Most wines are vinifed in Washington so they must be labled as Walla Walla AVA but Cayuse who put the AVA on the map (and a few others) can label Rocks District of Milton-Freewater.

Question 37

Oregon’s first AVA

Answer 37

Willamette Valley est. 1983