X Omni VINEYARD

Eola-Amity Hills AVA. A masterpiece created by Craig Willams, X Omni is located about as far south as the Eola-Amity Hills goes. More than 70 tons of rocks were pulled during the early phase of development, which began in 2012. The dense plantings are cordon-pruned and feature 15 distinct clones of Chardonnay. I am grateful to source from two unique blocks, both planted between 2014 and 2016. There is a bit of Aligote in one of the blocks, which is pressed and vinified with the Chardonnay. The vines are on rootstock, every other row is cultivated and this is the only site I work with access to irrigation. The mixed volcanic basalt soils are primarily Nekia and Gelderman with some Jory, and face south-southeast to north between 475’-515’ with slopes between 2-10%. Farming is slowly transitioning towards organic, LIVE-certified without herbicides by Stirling Fox/SWiG.

Harvest Dates

2019- 10/1/19 and 10/7/19

2020 - 9/20/20 and 10/1/20

2021 - 9/8/21 and 9/16/21

2022 - 10/7/22 and 10/15/22

2023 - 9/15/23 and 9/22/23

Koosah Vineyard

Eola-Amity Hills AVA. When I got a call from Kevin Chambers about Koosah in mid-2021, I was elated. In addition to native oak savannah, this high elevation windswept vineyard is planted to very steep slopes of 22% as well as extremely rocky benches between 700’-1100’. The mixed Dijon clones are on rootstock without irrigation in the rockiest volcanic basalts, Parrot, Saum and Witzel. Kevin, and his son Nate, masterfully planted and farmed this site organically, and sold to Resonance at the end of 2021. After a one-year hiatus in 2022, I am again contracted for two blocks of chardonnay at Koosah Vineyard. The vineyard will be certified organic.

Harvest Dates

2021 - 9/15/21

2023 - 9/18/23 and 9/19/23

THE EYRIE VINEYARDS, Original VInes

Dundee Hills AVA. David Lett planted Draper selection Chardonnay at The Eyrie Vineyards in the late 1960’s. His son, Jason Lett continues the Eyrie legacy and has offered me fruit from a 1968-planted block of this Draper. The volcanic basalt soils here are untilled Jory, the vines are own-rooted, non-irrigated and certified organic. The rows run south down the slope, and the block faces south at approximately 345’. These heritage vines may have some virus and phylloxera encroaches - the vines are so very special. The fruit is stark mirror of the season and typically, it is one of the last sites picked. I’m grateful for each opportunity to produce wine from some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Willamette Valley.

Harvest Dates

2016 - 9/20/16

2017 - 10/2/17

2018 - 10/2/18

2019 - 9/27/19

2020 - 9/19/20

2023 - 9/18/23

DURANT VINEYARD

Dundee Hills AVA. I receive a mix of Dijon clones (95 and 76) from this east facing slope just up the hill from The Eyrie Vineyards Original Vines. The non-irrigated vines are on rootstock in volcanic basalt soils and were planted in 2000. The rows in the Southside block sit around 425’ elevation. It is farmed sustainably by Paul Durant.

Harvest Dates

2017 - 9/15/17

2018 - 9/10/18

2019 - 9/7/19

2020 - 9/9/20

2021 - 8/30/21

2022 - 9/23/22

2023 - 9/6/23 and 9/11/23

Temperance Hill Vineyard

Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Developed by the Koo family in the early 1980’s, Dai Crisp has been farming the property organically for 25 years. I lease a block of non-irrigated Dijon clone 76 planted in 2019 on Jory over volcanic basalt on 101-14 rootstock. The vines are spaced 3.5’ x 8’ and pruned single guyot. The rows are gently sloping and face north in a bowl between 700’-750’ elevation. Temperance Hill has been certified Salmon Safe since 2005 and certified organic since 2012.

Harvest Dates

2021 - 9/22/21

2022 - 10/9/22

2023 - 9/21/23

Witness Tree Vineyard

Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Originally planted on own-roots in 1982, most of the east-facing vines were dying from phylloxera when the vineyard was sold in 2016. New ownership reimagined and replanted the vineyard, and development has continued since it was sold again in late 2022. I am confident the current ownership has the highest aims for the site. I lease a block at the top of the vineyard of 2019-planted mixed clones spaced 3.28’ x 6.5’ on 101-14 rootstock: 45% FPS 87, 45% Dijon 76, 5% Dijon 96, 5% Dijon 548. At 600’-680’ facing southeast, the Jory soils are rocky and the rows are very steep with 20-30% slope. Farming is transitioning to organic, there is no irrigation.

Harvest Dates

2022 - 9/26/22

2023 - 9/7/23

Blue HERON Farm

Willamette Valley AVA. Kevin Chambers consulted for Peter Dinsdale’s 50+acre Chardonnay vineyard on Cole Road south of Salem. Peter and his sons farm thousands of acres of crops in the Willamette Valley, but this is their first vineyard. The initial planting from 2019 is primarily south facing around 1000’ in Ritner, Witzel and Nekia soils, and includes multiple clones and rootstocks. The hillside is undulating and features multiple aspects. There is irrigation, and the farming is sustainable. As of early 2022, Kevin Chambers is still involved. I am very excited by the potential of Blue Heron, as well as by the South Salem Hills.

Harvest Dates

2022 - 10/11/22

2023 - 9/20/23

Von OehsEn Vineyard

Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Family-owned, von Oehsen Vineyard (sometimes called Piasta) faces east at 400-500’ across the street from Seven Springs South Block. I get two blocks of 2012-planted Dijon 95 on rootstock in Jory, Witzel and Ritner soils. The vineyard is farmed by Atlas Vineyard Management without herbicides and is moving to organic as much as vintages allow.

Harvest Dates

2022 - 10/1/22

2023 - 9/11/23

Yamhill VINEYARD

Yamhill-Carlton AVA. 1984/85-planted Wente selection Chardonnay vines grow on own roots in sandy, marine sediment WillaKenzie soils at 400-500' and face due south. Planted in two, non-irrigated blocks, the lower, larger section is impacted more by phylloxera than the smaller, upper section. Starting at the end of 2014, vine by vine replanting began with vineyard selected Wente on rootstock. The vineyard is farmed by Ralph’s son, Chris.

Harvest Dates

2014 - 9/27/14

2015 - 9/15/15

2016 - 9/10/16

2017 - 9/29/17 and 10/5/17

2018 - 9/28/18

2019 - 10/1/19

2020 - 10/2/20

2021 - 9/11/21

2022 - 10/13/22

2023 - 9/16/23

PREVIOUS PARTNERSHIPS

SEVEN SPRINGS VINEYARD, South Block

Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Seven Springs Vineyard is owned by Evening Land Vineyards. I am grateful to lease two blocks of non-irrigated Dijon clones growing in volcanic basalt soils between 500’-550’ in the South Block. This portion of Seven Springs faces southeast and was planted in 2012. Seven Springs is farmed organically by Jessica Cortell’s Vitis Terra outfit.

Harvest Dates

2017 - 9/28/17

2018 - 9/20/18

2019- 9/26/19

2020 - 9/22/20

2021 - 9/7/21 and 9/10/21

2022 - 10/3/22 and 10/8/22

Fairview Vineyard

Dundee Hills AVA. High-elevation, non-irrigated clone 87 Chardonnay in Jory volcanic basalt soils. Farmed organically by Ryan Hannaford. Sold in early 2022.

Harvest Dates

2021 - 8/30/21

Belle Colline Vineyard

Chehalem Mountains AVA. Low-elevation, 2017-planted Dijon 76, 95 and 96 in marine sediments farmed organically by Stirling Fox/SWiG.

Harvest Dates

2021 - 9/6/21

LOUBEJAC Vineyard

Willamette Valley AVA. 2008-planted Dijon 96 Chardonnay is farmed sustainably and without irrigation in gentle sloping Helmick silt loam and Willakenzie silty clay loam soils. As hill tilts to the east, the block of chardonnay is planted at modest density with rows running due north down the slope 400-350’. A unique exposure yields fruit with firm acidity, at modest sugar, with good flavor maturity, typically as one of the last Dijon clone picks. It is farmed by Bruno Corneaux, and NW Wine Co.

Harvest Dates

2016 - 9/16/16

2017 - 9/29/17

2018 - 9/26/18 and 9/27/18

2019 - 9/26/19

2020 - 9/21/20

ALEXELI VINEYARD

Willamette Valley AVA. AlexEli (alex ell-ee) is located in western foothills of the Cascade Mountains, about 45 minutes east of the winery. This is the east valley, and I believe this vineyard is just as important to the identity of the Willamette Valley as what is growing in the more ‘relevant” hillsides of Eola-Amity, Dundee, Yamhill-Carlton, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge or Chehalem. Planted in 1981 by Joe Dobbes’ father, and now farmed sustainably by Phil Kramer and his family, the high wire, own-rooted, non-irrigated Wente-drived 108 clone grows at 300’, deeply rooted in loam & clay soils over gravel. This site’s old vines offered a wonderful perspective and yielded concentrated fruit with high acidities.

Harvest Dates

2017 - 10/9/17

2018 - 9/28/18