The Oldest Pinot Noir Vines in the Willamette Valley
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Near the town of McMinnville, Oregon, The Eyrie Vineyards, contains the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the Willamette Valley. In 2005, Jason Lett took over managing the vineyards and winery from his father (David Lett) as he shares his family's story, and shows us the oldest vines—over 40 years old— that are still producing grapes for his annual wine harvests.
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Oregon's Yamhill Valley Wine: Series Sampler
The Oldest Oregon Wine Grape Vines
Young Oregon Wine Maker
Blending Wines: trisaetum
An Artisan Wine Barrel Maker
Sparkling Wines
L.I.V.E: A Sustainable Program for Wine Growers and Wineries
An Oregon Wine Grower: From Wall Street to Vineyard Farm
Other Fine Wines: Roussanne
Oregon 2nd Generation Wine Producers: Sokol Blosser
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What is the Future of Oregon Wine?
With only 51 years of grape-growing history behind them, the winemakers in Oregon are just getting started. Eyrie Vineyard's Jason Lett, whose father planted Willamette Valley's first pinot noir (and pinot gris) vines, offers his take on where the region is headed.
Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting at Wine Watch
I remember my trip to Oregon in the summer of 1994 for the IPNC (International Pinot Noir Celebration) this is one of the best wine parties that I have ever attended. The festival is limited to 500 attendees as it is hosted by McMinnville College and that is all they can accommodate in their lecture facilities. I remember not only were the quality of the wines at the highest level but the people in attendance were some of the most passionate Pinot Noir lovers that I had ever come across. And although winemaking began in the 19th century in this state it is only recently that its potential has been recognized by the rest of the world.
It was in 1979 when serious wine producers started to look at the potential of this area as Eyrie Vineyards' 1975 South Block Pinot Noir placed in the top 10 of Burgundy-style wines at the Gault-Millau French Wine Olympiades, and was rated the top Pinot Noir. This send the news around the wine world and shortly after Robert Drouhin, head of Burgundy's legendary Maison Joseph Drouhin, was visiting America's west coast promoting the Drouhin Burgundies. The California wine industry was just starting to receive its first recognition back then, but there was little if anything going on in Oregon. Robert's first visit to the Northwest and its earliest vineyards left him with the impression that it quite possibly would be Oregon, not California, that would ultimately prove to be the best place to grow the great grape of Burgundy - Pinot noir.
Inspired by his trip to Oregon and the results of 1979 tasting that was held in Paris, where, for the first time, the best new Oregon Pinot noirs were tasted in competition with the finest Burgundies. Robert decided to hold his own blind tasting in 1980 at the Drouhin cellars in France, with several of the best Oregon Pinot noirs going up against the finest Drouhin Grand Crus. It was a Drouhin Grand Cru that took first place this time, but an Oregon wine (the now legendary 1975 Eyrie Vineyards South Block) placed 2nd by a very narrow margin with the French experts. News of this tasting brought the first widespread international attention to Oregon Pinot noir.
After a few years time Robert's daughter Véronique just graduated with an advanced degree in enology from the University of Dijon, and wanted to expand her experience by working in Oregon. Véronique interned with Adelsheim Vineyards, Bethel Heights, and Eyrie for the 1986 vintage. Later on, Robert mentioned to David Adelsheim that it might be interesting to buy a piece of land in Oregon, to see what it might produce. What started as a passing thought began its transformation into reality when Adelsheim phoned the Drouhins in Beaune not long thereafter to tell them of a property that was for sale that they might be interested in. The rest is history and with one of Burgundies foremost wine producing families moving to Oregon the writing was on the wall that this wine producing region would soon get its much deserved recognition as one of the world's premier Pinot Noir growing regions.
Today, the state of Oregon in the United States has established an international reputation for its production of wine. Oregon has several different growing regions within the state's borders which are well-suited to the cultivation of grapes; additional regions straddle the border between Oregon and the states of Washington and Idaho. Wine making dates back to pioneer times in the 1840s, with commercial production beginning in the 1960s.
American Viticultural Areas entirely within the state include the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, Umpqua Valley, and Rogue Valley AVAs. Parts of the Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla Valley, and Snake River Valley AVAs lie within Oregon. Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are the top two grapes grown, with over 16,000 tons (14,515 metric tons) harvested in 2005. As of 2005, Oregon wine makers produced over 1.5 million cases combined.
Currently there are over 300 wineries in Oregon and a bustling tourism industry has developed around wine tasting. Much of the tourism focuses on the wineries and tasting rooms in and around the Yamhill Valley southwest of Portland.
You don't have to travel to Oregon to see some of the top wines being made here as we have brought the wines to you. Tonight we will taste over 30 of this state's top wines and Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone is making a few tasty treats to accompany the tasting wines and the fee for this event is $35 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.
Oregon Pinot Noir tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, April 19th
7pm
Oregon Pinot Camp: Diana and David Lett
This project is supported in part by the Oregon Cultural Trust:
With a degree in viticulture and enology from UC Davis, David Lett moved to Oregon in 1965 in pursuit of the perfect vineyard site. The Eyrie Vineyards, were founded in 1966 by David and Diana Lett in the Red Hills of Dundee, Oregon. The Letts made Oregon wine history, earning a little fame for the state after making the first American Pinot Noir to compete successfully with the renowned wines of Burgundy in 1980. Jason Lett took on the positions of winemaker and vineyard manager in 2005, continuing the family legacy.
In this interview, David talks about the excitement of growing Pinot Noir in Oregon. He also addresses wine industry history regarding land use laws and regional innovations.
Exploring Oregon Wine Country: Wine + Heritage
See Oregon wine country through the eyes of The Eyrie Vineyards winemaker Jason Lett, whose parents planted the Willamette Valley's first Pinot noir.
Shea Vineyards
Oregon is rightfully known as Pinot Noir country, and one of the better-known purveyors of this grape is the 200-acre vineyard planted by Dick and Deirdre Shea in 1989. Shea Vineyards lies in the heart of Oregons Yamhill-Carlton District. The Willakenzie soils in this part of the state make it an ideal site for some world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Finally, after yielding fruit to some of the Wests best known wineries, Dick and Deirdre founded Shea Wine Cellars in 1996, in order to produce their own wines from Estate fruit. We wondered what it would be like to taste the full lineup of their current vintage. We didnt have to wait long.
Fortunately, our own Rusty Gaffney was able to lay his hands on the entire 2005 lineup of wines, and arranged for all of us to sit down and taste through them. Join us as we explore the smells and tastes of Oregons Shea Vineyards - one bottle at a time.
Join us as we talk with with Dick Shea about his eponymous Oregon vineyard.
The Early Days of the Oregon Wine Industry: European Influences
Jason Lett talks about the role of European influences in the earliest days of the Willamette Valley's wine industry in Oregon. Jason owns and manages Eyrie Vineyards, one of the iconic producers of wine in Oregon.
See all of our videos with Jason Lett of Eyrie Vineyards:
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Oldest Winery in Oregon
View our newest video highlighting the Nehalem Bay Winery near Cannon Beach.
A moment with winemaker Ken Wright
An interview with Ken Wright, winemaker and proprietor of Ken Wright Cellars in Carlton, Oregon.
Salem, Oregon Vineyard
I had the opportunity to eat at a scenic vineyard while visiting my friends in Oregon. While there I watched the vinedressers trim the grapes... I did this short of it, I had until then, never seen that before, it was cool because they were singing , you can't hear it on the video but it was like you see in the old timey movies, but real...
Travel Oregon Magazine: Nick's Italian Cafe
Since opening in 1977, Nick's has been a McMinnville stalwart for hungry winemakers and wine drinkers alike. Founder Nick Peirano recently handed over the reins to his daughter Carmen, and her husband Eric Ferguson. Bringing culinary training and passion from San Francisco and Italy, the couple has reinvigorated the restaurant's focus on regional Italian dishes, including exceptional wood-fired pizza, and expanded the Back Room bar into the kind of gathering spot worthy of staying up late for (Tip: Be wary. Winemakers are good at pool.) The wine list at Nick's is equally notable, boasting a well-edited selection of area standouts from both recent vintages as well as treasures from Nick's carefully built cellar. You can choose a 1976 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot from Oregon pioneer David Lett, or a 2008 Black Cap from Lett's son Jason, who's carrying on the family tradition.
How Richard Sommer Started Oregon Wine Industry in 1961
In Chapter 4 of 7, Willamette Valley winemaker Patty Green discusses her mentor, Richard Sommer, an Oregon winemaking visionary, pioneer, and Hillcrest Vineyard founder. Sommer provided then-novice winemaker Green non-traditional mentoring and support during her late-80s Hillcrest tenure. Sommer, who passed away the afternoon of this interview, filmed July 28th, 2009, influenced many by helping others, embracing nature, and building Oregon's wine vinifera - Old World wine grape focus - from nothing starting with a 1961 Umpqua Valley planting. View more at