The Wines of Oregon

Summary

Oregon, the third-largest producer of fine wine in the U.S., is known for its Pinot Noir, accounting for 60% of its wine production. Despite being a small percentage of the national output, Oregon's wine industry has grown dramatically, with over 730 wineries and diverse climates allowing for a variety of grapes. The Willamette Valley, with its cool climate, is the heart of Oregon's wine country, but regions like the Columbia Gorge and Umpqua Valley are gaining recognition. The state's agricultural history and collaborative spirit among winemakers have contributed to its rise in quality and reputation.

Takeaways

• 🍷 Oregon is the third largest producer of fine wine in the U.S., contributing only 1% to total production.
• 🌍 The state has diverse climates, comparable in size and variety to half of France.
• 🍇 Pinot Noir accounts for approximately 60% of Oregon's wine production, especially in the Willamette Valley.
• 🌱 The modern Oregon wine industry began in the 1960s with pioneers who emphasized collaboration and quality.
• 🏞️ Oregon's wine regions vary from cool to moderate climates, influenced by the coastal range and Cascade Mountains.
• 🌧️ Despite its rainy reputation, Oregon has dry months ideal for grape growing, particularly from July to September.
• 🌄 The Columbia Gorge is a growing wine region that spans the Oregon-Washington border, known for its unique climate and geology.
• 🍷 The Umpqua Valley, located south of the Willamette, showcases a range of grape varieties, including Tempranillo.
• 🌿 The Rogue Valley is Oregon's southernmost wine region, known for its diverse microclimates and grape varieties.
• 🔮 The future of Oregon wine looks promising, with increasing recognition of its diverse regions and varieties beyond Pinot Noir.

Q & A

What is Oregon's rank in wine production in the United States?

Oregon is the third largest producer of fine wine in the United States.

What percentage of total U.S. wine production does Oregon account for?

Oregon accounts for only one percent of total U.S. wine production.

What type of wine is Oregon known for?

Oregon is known for Pinot Noir, which represents roughly 60 percent of its wine production.

How has the perception of Oregon wine changed over the last 30 years?

The perception of Oregon wine has changed radically, with people getting excited to hear the word 'Oregon' when discussing Pinot Noir.

What was the agricultural focus of Oregon before the modern era of commercial winemaking?

Before the modern era of commercial winemaking, Oregon's agricultural focus was mainly on apples.

Who are considered the modern pioneers of Oregon's wine industry?

The modern pioneers of Oregon's wine industry are the early winemakers like Dick Ponzi, David Lett, and David Adelsheim who started the industry in the 1960s.

Why did the early winemakers in Oregon need to collaborate?

The early winemakers in Oregon needed to collaborate because there were limited services and resources available in the area for winemaking.

How has the number of wineries in Oregon changed over the past 30 years?

The number of wineries in Oregon has grown from 49 to over 730 in the past 30 years.

What are the different climate zones for wine regions in Oregon?

Oregon's wine regions range from cool to moderate climates, influenced by the coastal range and the Cascade Mountains.

What is special about the climate for grape growing during the summer months in Oregon?

During the summer months of July, August, and September, Oregon experiences a dry climate which is perfect for grape growing.

How does the Columbia Gorge wine region differ from the Willamette Valley?

The Columbia Gorge wine region, while small in size, experiences dramatic shifts in climate and geology as you head east, allowing for a variety of grape varietals to be grown.

What is unique about the soils in the Umpqua Valley?

The Umpqua Valley is defined by mountain ranges and has a mix of cool climate grapes like Pinot Noir in the north and warmer climate grapes like Syrah, Malbec, and Grenache in the south.

What challenges does climate change pose to the Willamette Valley's focus on cool climate grapes?

Climate change could pose a challenge to the Willamette Valley's focus on cool climate grapes by increasing variance in weather, requiring producers to adapt their practices to maintain the distinct flavor profiles.

Outlines

00:00

🍇 Oregon's Wine Renaissance

The state of Oregon, despite being the third largest producer of fine wine in the U.S., only accounts for a small percentage of the country's total wine production. However, its wine industry has seen dramatic developments, making it a global icon for quality wine. Oregon's vast size, comparable to half of France, offers varied climates suitable for different grape varieties, with Pinot Noir being the dominant grape, especially in the Willamette Valley. The perception of Oregon wine has changed significantly over the past 30 years, with Pinot Noir from the region gaining national and international recognition. The modern era of commercial winemaking in Oregon is relatively young, with a history of agriculture that predates prohibition, initially focusing on apples. The pioneers of Oregon's wine industry emerged in the 1960s, with little experience but a strong collaborative spirit, which was essential due to the lack of services and information in the area. Their focus was on quality from the start, and they chose Pinot Noir as their flagship variety, drawing inspiration from Burgundy and the need for community collaboration.

05:01

🌍 Oregon's Diverse Wine Regions

Oregon's wine regions are diverse, ranging from cool to moderate climates, influenced by the coastal range and the Cascade Mountains. The Willamette Valley is the premier cool climate area, known for Pinot Noir, but other regions like the Elkton AVA and Red Hills AVA also thrive. Moving to warmer climates, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley, and Applegate Valley are becoming known for Rhone varietals and other warm-climate grapes. The Columbia Gorge, a new but thriving wine region, spans the border of Washington and Oregon, with a dramatic shift in climate and geology as you move east. The Rox District of Milton-Freewater, contained within Oregon, offers riverbed soils similar to those of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, making it ideal for Rhone-inspired wines. The Umpqua Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges, varies from cool and wet in the north to dry and warm in the south, with grapes like Tempranillo finding success. The Rogue and Applegate Valleys are just beginning to gain fame, with a wide range of grape varieties, while the Willamette Valley continues to focus on Pinot Noir.

10:02

🌱 The Future of Oregon Wine

Pinot Noir accounts for over 70% of the grapes grown in the Willamette Valley, but other varieties like Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay are also key to the region. Chardonnay, in particular, is gaining recognition as Oregon Chardonnay makes its mark on the national market. Climate change poses a challenge to the cool climate grapes of the Willamette Valley, requiring producers to adapt their practices, such as picking earlier in warmer vintages. The future of Oregon wine is expected to continue to be dominated by Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, but there is potential for increased recognition of other regions and varieties. The diversity of Oregon's regions, both to the east and south, will complement the strength of Pinot Noir and contribute to an exciting future for the state's wine industry.

Keywords

💡Willamette Valley

Willamette Valley is the primary wine-producing region in Oregon, known for its cool climate, ideal for growing Pinot Noir. It dominates Oregon's wine scene, and much of the video highlights how this valley has evolved to become a global icon for wine quality. The valley's focus on Pinot Noir and its specific AVAs are discussed throughout the script, emphasizing its central role in Oregon's wine reputation.

💡Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is the most prominent grape variety in Oregon, representing around 60% of the state's wine production. The video explains that while Oregon's wine story began with this grape, its success, particularly in the Willamette Valley, has helped position Oregon as a respected region in the global wine industry. The delicate nature of Pinot Noir and its ability to thrive in Oregon’s diverse climates is a key theme.

💡American Viticultural Areas (AVA)

AVAs, or American Viticultural Areas, are specific wine-growing regions in the U.S. recognized for their unique climate, soil, and geographical features. The video mentions several AVAs in Oregon, including the Willamette Valley, Columbia Gorge, and Umpqua Valley, showcasing how Oregon’s varied geography allows for diverse wine production across the state.

💡Collaborative winemaking

Oregon's winemaking industry is described as having a strong spirit of collaboration, especially among early winemakers who lacked resources and business experience. This collaborative effort was essential in the early days of the Willamette Valley's wine scene, with winemakers sharing knowledge and resources to establish quality wine production.

💡Climate diversity

Oregon is noted for its diverse climates, ranging from cool to warm, which allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of grape types. The video contrasts the cool, Pinot Noir-friendly climate of the Willamette Valley with the warmer regions in southern and eastern Oregon, where grapes like Syrah and Tempranillo thrive. This diversity is central to Oregon's expanding wine industry.

💡Columbia Gorge

The Columbia Gorge AVA is a rapidly developing wine region that spans the border between Oregon and Washington. The video highlights its varied geology and climate, which range from cool, high-elevation sites ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, to warmer areas suited for Rhone varietals. Its small size and potential for growth are emphasized.

💡Pioneers of Oregon wine

The term 'pioneers' refers to the early winemakers in Oregon, such as Dick Ponzi and David Lett, who were instrumental in developing the state's wine industry in the 1960s. These pioneers, often without formal business or winemaking backgrounds, helped establish Oregon's reputation for high-quality wine through collaboration and a focus on Pinot Noir.

💡Geology

The geology of Oregon plays a critical role in the success of its wine industry. Different soil types, such as the volcanic 'Jory' soil in the Dundee Hills and the marine sedimentary soils in Yamhill-Carlton, create distinct wine characteristics. The video discusses how the variety in soil across Oregon contributes to the diversity of wine styles.

💡Tempranillo

Tempranillo, a Spanish grape variety, has found success in Oregon's Umpqua Valley due to its warm and dry climate. The video explains that this grape thrives particularly well in the southern parts of Oregon, highlighting the state's growing diversity in wine production beyond Pinot Noir.

💡Climate change

The video touches on the potential impact of climate change on Oregon's wine industry, particularly how it may affect the Willamette Valley's cool climate, which is ideal for Pinot Noir. As temperatures rise, winemakers may need to adapt their practices, such as harvesting earlier, to maintain the quality and distinct characteristics of their wines.

Highlights

Oregon is the third largest producer of fine wine in the United States.

Oregon accounts for only one percent of total U.S. wine production.

Developments over the last generation have been dramatic for Oregon's wine industry.

Oregon is a global icon for quality wine.

Pinot Noir represents roughly 60 percent of Oregon wine production.

Oregon's diverse climates, geography, and geology allow for various grape varieties to succeed.

The perception of Oregon wine has changed radically in the past 30 years.

Pinot Noir from Oregon excites people across the United States.

Oregon's modern era of commercial winemaking is only a few decades old.

The Willamette Valley has led Oregon's wine industry for over a century.

Oregon winemakers initially focused on Pinot Noir with a near singular focus.

The number of wineries in Oregon has grown from 49 to over 730 in 30 years.

Oregon's climate is conducive to grape growing, with a dry season in the summer months.

The Columbia Gorge is a new but thriving wine region spanning the border of Washington and Oregon.

The Umpqua Valley has seen particular success with the Tempranillo grape.

The Rogue and Applegate Valleys are beginning to find fame with a wide range of grape varieties.

The Willamette Valley is defined by its focus on Pinot Noir.

Sub-regions within the Willamette Valley have distinct characteristics that influence wine profiles.

Oregon wine has established itself with world-class Pinot Noir, but other regions offer diverse varieties.

Climate change could pose a challenge to Oregon's focus on cool climate grapes.

The future of Oregon wine looks promising with potential for growth both nationally and internationally.

Transcripts

[Music]

the state of oregon

is the third largest producer of fine

wine in the united states

but accounts for only one percent of

total u.s wine production

while this might sound small

developments over the last generation

have been dramatic

and today oregon is a global icon for

quality wine

oregon is actually a huge place i mean

it's

as big as half of france and it's got

climates as varied as half of france

pinot noir represents roughly 60 percent

of oregon wine

and dominates plantings in the

willamette valley but throughout the

state

other grapes are finding success within

diverse climates geography and geology

so it's hard to explain that there's a

very different southern oregon

and a very different eastern oregon

where different grapes can be grown

the perception of oregon wine has

changed radically in the 30 years that

i've been here

nowadays you can go pretty much anywhere

in the united states and talk about

pinot noir and people get excited to

hear the word oregon

oregon will continue to develop as a

wine region the willamette valley within

it

has such a lead that it influences the

entire state

for over a century oregon has been home

to a thriving agricultural economy

while wine growing predates prohibition

the modern era of commercial wine making

is only a few decades old

in terms of agricultural endeavors in

this region they began right at the turn

of the century mainly with apples

and a lot of folks were encouraged to

come west

to settle farms and in the area there's

all kinds of agriculture in the state of

oregon along with christmas trees which

is one of the larger agricultural crops

here

and then grapes have come along and

they're slowly but surely growing up the

the chain

as far as the the largest number of

acres planted the modern pioneers of the

willamette valley emerged in the 1960s

with little winemaking or business

experience

the earliest wine makers to come to

oregon we call the pioneers and they

came and they're the dick ponzis the

david latz david adelsine

they came and started the organ wine

industry and they came at the time where

you really had to be very collaborative

we wanted to make quality wine right

from the beginning

but back then this combination of

wanting to do it right making credible

wine

and not realizing what they were setting

out to do

would be hard if they had tons of money

and they didn't even have tons of money

nobody had even owned a business in this

group of 10 families that started the

wine industry in the willamette valley

they had to work together because there

weren't a lot of services in the area

there weren't a lot of

places to go to find out information to

buy yeast or to buy barrels

you really needed to work together to

make it work oregon wine makers settled

in on pinot noir with a near singular

focus

while they drew inspiration from

burgundy the small community's driving

influence was their need to collaborate

and learn from one another

now that the willamette valley is firmly

established top quality winemaking has

begun to expand throughout oregon when i

first started in oregon there were 49

wineries and now there's over 730

wineries in the state of oregon that's

over a 30-year

period of time wine regions range from

cool to moderate in climate and are

broadly influenced by the coastal range

and the cascade mountains

so the cool climate areas in oregon are

primarily the willamette valley number

one

the northern part of the umpqua which is

called the elkton ava

and then also the red hills ava the rest

of them are primarily intermediate warm

and so that is going to be primarily uh

southern oregon the rogue valley the

applegate valley

and the umpqua contrary to its

rain-soaked stereotype

oregon's skies aren't universally gray

almost all of the vineyards that we have

in oregon are what we call xeric

moisture regime so you have a

fairly wet climate for most of the year

but then in the months of july

august and september it doesn't rain

it's dry and that's perfect for growing

grapes

you can have areas with a lot of rain

very little rain

there's areas that are are kind of

covered in rock others that have very

little rock

and that allows the the wine makers and

the vineyard growers to grow a

tremendous

breadth of varietals while the story of

oregon wine begins with pinot noir and

the willamette valley the growing

success of its other regions is a vital

element in a developing story

east of the willamette is the columbia

gorge a new but thriving wine region

that spans the border of washington and

oregon

the columbia gorge avia supersedes the

state line which is the river columbia

river

although small in size the climate and

geology of the columbia gorge shift

dramatically as you head east

so as we go up in the gorge we have

columbia river basalts but we also have

deposits coming off of

older volcanics in the hood river valley

uh and some of the

the red soils that we have here are very

uh similar to the red soils that we have

in the columbia river

basalts in the willamette valley we have

legitimate

cooler climate high elevation vineyard

sites that are

located to the western edge of the ava

as you transition just five or six miles

east

we come into a more burgundy influenced

area where a lot of pinot and chardonnay

is grown

and then you just move five miles

further east

and you're growing rhone varietals

recognition of the columbia gorge will

likely grow

today the region is dominated by small

producers and due to the nature of the

landscape

this is likely to continue east of the

gorge the rox district of milton free

water has been defined as an ava within

walla walla

but is contained entirely within the

oregon state border

the region's riverbed soils recall the

galley of chateauneuf de pape

and noteworthy producers have found a

promising home for roan inspired wines

immediately south of the willamette is

the umpqua valley defined by the

mountain ranges that's surrounded on

three sides

the umpqua valley is somewhere between

30 and 70 miles from the pacific ocean

nestled between the cascade mountains

the kalamath mountains and the oregon

coastal range

the northern part of the valley which

has very little horographic barrier

is by far the wettest and coolest

because of the marine

influence as you come south the barrier

becomes higher along the coastal range

and so the prevailing pacific westerlies

don't penetrate

and therefore we have a drier and a much

warmer climate

the northern umpqua valley's distinct

climates have been instantiated into

individual

avas in the red hills of douglas county

ava

and the elkton ava cool climate grapes

like pinot noir thrive

in the southern part of the valley syrah

malbec and grenache are commonly seen

although one unexpected grape has had

particular success

we had selected to grow tempranillo and

came to the umpqua valley specifically

to grow it here because of the wonderful

climate

now we have over 70 to 80 vineyards that

are

producing tempranillo because we got the

perfect climate

home to oregon's first official winery

in 1873

the rogue valley is the southernmost

wine region in oregon

extending to the california border the

applegate valley further defines the

center of the rogue valley ava

i think that the the beauty of both

valleys taken in totality is the

diversity of microclimate

applegate valley is uh west of ashland

west of uh medford oregon um it's in the

very southern part of the state where

we're standing right now is literally

nine miles from the california border

extreme weather can pose a threat to

wine growers but the climate is

generally mitigated by surrounding

mountains

pinot noir and cool climate grapes grow

in the valley's microclimates to the

west

while the temperatures trend warmer on

the eastern side of the valley

it seems to me that the the rhone

varietals the syrahs the vignese

uh rusan marsan are really starting to

uh

populate throughout throughout the

applegate valley the rogue and applegate

valleys are just beginning to find fame

with a wide range of grape varieties but

the well-established willamette valley

has always hung its hat on a single

grape

the willamette valley is defined

physically

by the area under about a thousand feet

where grapes can be grown and ripened

and where the water flows into the

willamette river

and out to the columbia into the ocean

we started off planting pinot noir back

in the 60s

and it was is pretty much decided that

the north willamette valley was the best

place to grow pinot noir

we also ended up realizing that if we

focused on one grape variety

that by all doing the same thing that we

could end up

getting to the to this quality issue

that was so important

producers reference an overarching

willamette style but there are also

tangible differences within sub-regions

of the valley

and a lot of us started talking about

how distinct the different areas that

pinot noir was being grown within the

willamette valley and so there was some

work done and it was back in the early

2000s

where we started designating different

avas to really reflect the pinot noir

that was grown in those areas

the mcminnville and iola amity avas are

known for basalt soils and the influence

of the van duzer corridor

mcminnville has mixed soil series you

can have the salt soils but you also

have some sedimentary soils

eola amity is also a basalt soil ava and

the bandus recorder allows the cool

ocean airs to blow in at night so you'll

see the temperature could be quite warm

during the day but it plummets very

rapidly at night

and what this does is allow the fruit to

like ripen during the day

but really slow down at night so the phs

tend to be a lot lower

the acidity a little bit brighter and

the fruit and the skins tend to be a

little bit

darker so we get much darker profiled

fruit than you would say from the dundee

hills ava

in the center of the valley the dundee

hills is known for jewelry clay a

volcanic soil that's often associated

with aromatic

red fruited wines so the dundee hills

ava is a

one of my favorite ava's and it does

make wines a very sweet

textured i almost say perfumed feel to

the wines

in the northwest the horseshoe-shaped

yam hill carlton

is defined by uplifted marine sediments

and its wines are generally richer in

texture and dark fruits

in the northeast the shahala mountain is

a hodgepodge of complex soils

a fact that has encouraged producers to

further define the area

shahala mountain is actually right

behind us here it was subdivided to a

smaller eva that is

all predominantly sedimentary soils and

that became the ribbon ridge aba

more recently producers in the shahala

mountain have singled out sections of

the ava characterized by silty

laurelwood soils

while pinot noir accounts for more than

70 percent of the grapes grown in the

willamette

pinot gris pinot blanc riesling and

increasingly chardonnay are key to the

region so chardonnay has a long history

in oregon

it was planted alongside pinot noir

we're finding that more and more now

chardonnay's being planted in the

appropriate place with the appropriate

clone and it's becoming very exciting to

see oregon chardonnay taking the

national market by storm

with the uncertainties of climate change

greater variance in weather could pose a

challenge to willamette valley's focus

on cool climate grapes

we will need to work ever harder to

ensure that the wine

continues to taste like the willamette

valley meaning picking

earlier as we have warmer vintages and

getting a better handle on how to make

great wine in the cooler and later

vintages that inevitably

get mixed in looking into the future the

willamette valley and pinot noir will

continue to dominate oregon wine

although we can expect to see increasing

recognition of oregon's other regions

and diverse varieties

pinot noir has such a head start in the

willamette valley at this point

i mean 73 of this one grape variety

means that

for the next generation two generations

maybe beyond that

the willamette valley will be so known

for its pinot

that nobody will stop doing that

i think you're going to see a lot of

more professional knowledge about oregon

expanding further and further maybe not

just nationally but internationally so i

think there's great potential for growth

in oregon

oregon wine has established itself with

world-class pinot noir from the

willamette valley

but the diversity of oregon's other

regions both to the east and to the

south

will complement this strength and make

for a very exciting future

[Music]

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