North of McMinnville, the foothills of the Coast Range create an AVA of nearly 60,000 acres, centered around the hamlets of Carlton and Yamhill. Low ridges surround the two communities in a horseshoe shape, with the North Yamhill River coursing through nurseries, grain fields, orchards and more than 1,200 acres of vineyard. This pastoral northwest corner of Oregon’s Willamette Valley provides a unique set of growing conditions.
The Coast Range to the west soars to nearly 3,500 feet (1,200m) establishing a rain shadow over the entire district. Additional protection is afforded by the Chehalem Mountains to the north and the Dundee Hills to the east. Importantly, the coarse-grained, ancient marine sediments native to the area are some of the oldest soils in the valley. These soils drain quickly, establishing a natural deficit-irrigation effect.
“Without a sense of place the work is often reduced to a cry of voices in empty rooms, a literature of the self, at its best poetic music; at its worst a thin gruel of the ego.” — William Kennedy
Although the above quote was describing the sense of place in writing, I believe the same can be said of grapes. By now we know wine begins in the vineyard, and with every bottle I open, that sense of place becomes more readily apparent.
I’ve been fortunate to taste through several of Ken Wright Cellars’ Pinot Noirs as of late and it’s clear the wines are an expression of the philosophy upon which Ken Wright founded his namesake winery: “source is everything.”
Ken Wright Cellars specializes in Pinot Noir, and specifically vineyard designate productions from 13 different vineyard sites in the Northern Willamette Valley. Each vineyard is managed meticulously and sustainably, and through minimal intervention in the winery, each wine is meant as an illustration of time and place.
This 2017 Savoya Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, which Mr. Wright proposed and organized (he was also instrumental in creating five other AVAs in the northern Willamette). Planted between 1999 and 2003 to Dijon clones, the vineyard sits in soils of ancient marine sediment known for producing texturally driven wines with lower acidity than other areas.
And does that sense of place shine through? Yes, it does. While I’m normally drawn to Pinots with higher acidity, the balance presented in the Savoya is exquisite. There’s notes of fresh fruits - both red and black (think cranberries, black raspberries and cherries), earth, herbaceousness, and minerality. There’s depth and structure, but also a soft sophistication. Certainly one of those bottles you savor to the last drop (which you hate to pour out).
Source is indeed everything at Ken Wright Cellars and that is a philosophy I can get behind.
No rooms of empty voices here, drop the egos at the door… a sense of place is a connection that ultimately binds us all.
If you haven’t yet tried these Willamette Valley Pinots from Ken Wright…it’s time. Happy #winesday everyone!...
The Holocene wines 2020 vintage sites. A moody but beautiful day in the Valley. Looking forward to this vintage...something good has to happen this year, right?
I would not be able to do what I do without these amazing partners. 🙏🙏🙏
Even the hottest Oregon days lead to cool nights, a temperature fluctuation which is essential for growing premium wine grapes. It's also pretty, and last night Steve got some great shots, while enjoying a sunset stroll with our vineyard dog Scarlett O'Hair.
The lowest point of our Vineyard is about 375 feet elevation, and our tasting rooms is up around 450ft, giving a commanding view of the neighboring vineyards, valley floor, and the coastal range about 30 miles west.
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#LenneEstate #LenneEstateWinery
#WVwines #YamhillCarltonAVA
#OregonWineCountry #WillametteValley
#OregonWine
#PinotNoir #chardonnay
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#DogFriendly
such a pleasure to go Live with elkcove owner/ winemaker Adam Campbell & taste through these beauties on Fri. Until technology got the better of me of course...
Stunning wines, such history & what a gorgeous location. La Boheme was 🤯
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#oregon #oregonwine #willamettevalley #willamette #yamhillcarltonava #willametteava #wine #winelover #winetasting #winelearning #sommelier #sommlife #pinotnoir #pinotgris #winemaker #winery #instagramlive #elkcove...
“Willamette Valley and its sub-AVAs”.
Part 2/4
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Secondly, we have Ribbon Ridge AVA. It began as the southwestern part of Chehalem Mountains but has recently been recognized as a separate AVA. The uniqueness comes from both the shallow layer of uniformly oceanic sedimentary soils called “WillaKenzie” from the nearby Willamette and MacKenzie Rivers at top bedrock sandstone and the protection from weather patterns by the surrounding hills. Consisting of only 3500 acres, with less than 500 acres planted it’s the smallest AVA in the valley. .
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Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noirs are smooth and supple with excellent balance of spice and elegant floral notes without the more acidic punch from many of its neighbors. Notable producers here are beauxfreres , patriciagreencellars , domainedivio , ayresvineyard , and trisaetum_winery . .
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Yamhill-Carlton is nestled between the coastal range to the West and the Chehalem Mountains to the Northeast. The AVA is defined by a u-shaped series of hills and the Yamhill River running thru an area of over 60,000 acres with 1,200 acres of vineyards. Sitting in the rain shadow of the coastal range and the well-draining marine sedimentary soils are the keys to the wines. Vines stop shooting here earlier than elsewhere in the valley leaving more time for ripening.
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The wines have silky integrated tannins with dark fruit notes, tobacco and coffee with floral overtones and medium acid. .
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Notable producers are: kwcellars , willakenzie , wildairecellars and soterwines . .
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#willamettevalley #willamettevalleywine #willamettevalleyava #oregonwine #uswine #americanwine #pinotnoir
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“Willamette Valley and its sub-AVAs”.
Part 3/4
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Dundee Hills AVA abuts Yamhill Carlton to the east and sits just south of Chehalem Mountains. This is the oldest planted area in the Willamette and has almost 2,200 acres of planted vines in the 6,500-acre AVA. Dundee Hills is mainly comprised of Basalt lava flows called “Jory” and starts above the 200 ft elevation line where sedimentary soils are minimal. .
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Wines are known for rich complexity, bright fruit notes, minerality, and silky tannins. Notable producers include domainedrouhinoregon mareshvineyard depontecellars , domaineserene and sokolblosser . .
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The McMinnville AVA lies South and West of the Yamhill Carlton, running up the eastern slopes of the Coast Range comprising of over 40,000 acres. The soils, rich but shallow, alluvial and marine sedimentary deposits over a base layer of basalt and cooling effect from winds funneled off the Pacific from the south keep the vineyards cool and dry.
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Long hang times affect fruit maturity and wines show well with rich black fruit notes, spice, and earthy flavors. Small blocks are usually vinified separately and sometimes blended into estate wines depending on desired outcomes. Notable producers here are: brittanvineyards , hylandestates , youngberg_hill and maysarawinery .
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See you in two days for the last part!
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#willamettevalley #willamettevalleywine #willamettevalleyava #oregonwine #uswine #americanwine #pinotnoir
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One of the real perks of fall is clouds in the sky and sunsets early enough to observe and document them while we're still at work. 🙂 Tuesday night was amazing.
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#LenneEstate #LenneEstateWinery
#WVwines #YamhillCarltonAVA
#OregonWineCountry #WillametteValley
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#PinotNoir #chardonnay
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#DogFriendly
First-time visitors making appointments ask if they can taste outside, and if there's a view. We try not to laugh, because yes, all tastings are conducted on our outside patio which is heated if needed, and there's a ridiculous view in every direction. 🥰🍇
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#LenneEstate #LenneEstateWinery
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#OregonWineCountry #WillametteValley
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#TastingRoom #wineMaker #wineMaking #FamilyOwned
#DogFriendly
We have to applaud the timing of the arrival of World Labyrinth Day - today, Saturday, May 7.
The labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness and mindfully strolling its path relieves stress, reduces anxiety, and enhances mental alertness.
Dating back 4,000 years and found across civilizations, labyrinths have long been used as a meditative tool to rejuvenate the spirit, center thoughts, sharpen concentration, and stimulate inner strength.
Every year on the first Saturday in May, thousands around the globe celebrate World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for world peace and equality.
Cheers to a worldwide rolling wave of peaceful energy today and the inspiration labyrinths provide. Sláinte!
Doyle and Darcy have a nose for vines and enjoy their morning vineyard walks.
As we prepare for harvest activity and monitor our fruit for ripeness, we remind everyone on the roads to be cautious. With extra truck traffic and valley visitors, we encourage everyone to take it slow and be safe.
Doyle and Darcy wish all of our industry colleagues a safe and fruitful harvest. Sláinte!
Check out our swarm! A couple weeks ago a Queen Bee moved into one of our wine barrels, and we couldn’t be happier to give her a new home here on our vineyard. Does this mean someday we will be getting honey? One can only hope... 🐝 #pollinatorpartner #laurelviews...
Happy Easter!!!🐣✨
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Celebrating with family the holiest of Sundays with another awesome #pinot from landlineswine
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From barrel-select clonal blend of #pinotnoir from Tidalstar Vineyards in Yamhill-Carlton, 2017 Proper Motion PN is a deeply pitched red. Showing a fleshy core of red and black fruits, aromas of dried flowers, subtle touches of sweet soil and spice, and delicately chalky tannins, it’s beautifully layered with splendid balance and energy. There’s a wonderful weightlessness to the rich layers of fruit.
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Named after a measurement of a star’s movement in relation to other celestial bodies overtime, Proper Motion is a charming expression that reflects a great sense place🍷
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#landlinesestates #yamhillcarltonava #oregonwine #oregonwinecountry #biodynamicwine #organicwine #lovewine #winephotography #igwine #winesofinstagram #winegram #wineo #instawines #wineblog #inmyglass...
It's crimson clover season out in the Yamhill Carlton AVA, a beautiful time to head out to wine country.
#clover #elk #yamhillcarltonava #orwinemonth...
One step closer to warm sunny days in the garden. Spring into the new season and discover a taste of the Willamette Valley 🍷 #KickAsh #OregonWineCountry...
It's a beautiful morning on Doe Ridge! Harvest is in full swing here in the Willamette Valley: Dundee Hill Rose of Pinot Noir has been pressed, Pinot Gris starting to come in today and by next week, our Foley Estate Pinot Noir!
After 3 seasons of stretching those legs, these vines are finally ready to reach for the stars ✨ #PinotNoir #Harvest2021 #WillametteValleyWine #YamhillCarltonAVA #BeyondOrganic #BiodynamicWine #GayFarmer...
We want to take a moment and thank the yamhillcarlton AVA for highlighting the amazing women in our industry for Women's History month, including our very own Angela Summers. We're very lucky to have you Angela!
📸: andreajohnsonphotography
#womenshistorymonth wvwines #wvcommunity #womeninwine #oregonwinecountry #saffronfieldsvineyard #wvwines #sfv #femaleleaders #strongwomen #yamhillcarlton #saffronfields #yamhillcarltonava #winecountry...
So, what’s twice as good as opening a great bottle of wine? How about a magnum of awesomeness? Sounds good to me! 😀
Magnum Marathon at Wines Til Sold Out starts tomorrow!! So, mark your calendar and set your alarm for Tuesday, April 26! It runs from 8am-9pm ET (12 hours).
There will be a great variety of red, white, and rosé large-format bottles at 1.5L and there will 10-15 new bottles every hour for 12 hours!!
The shipping will be free on all orders of $40 or more and Magnum Marathon orders placed at different points in the day are able to be combined and shipped together! Wine shipping can be so expensive and magnums seem to run even more, so this is an incredible opportunity to save on those shipping costs!
Think about what a great Mother’s Day gift a magnum would be to all of the wine loving Moms out there!!
Code WINETIME even provides $10 off $50+ first time purchases and is active for the entire Marathon.
This is such a great opportunity to get some larger format bottles at a great price! I know I’ll be checking them out! There is also a link directly to Wines Til Sold Out in my profile so you can easily get there. 🍷
Cheers everyone and I hope you have a great week! #magnummarathon #largeformatbottles #wtso #freeshipping #greatwinesatgreatprices. #moretoshare #pinotnoir #pinot #yamhillcarltonava #yamhillcarlton #primitivo...
Come join the fun in Carlton! Our tasting room doors are open. We have lots of outdoor seating, and plenty of room to spread out and relax in the sunshine with a glass... or two!
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We are excited to introduce you to one of the newest members of our winery team! Please meet our new Director of Hospitality—Ruthie Magnus! If you haven't already meet Ruthie, get to know her a bit better through her bio below. Be sure to welcome her on your next visit to KWC!
Born in Pennsylvania but raised in Florida, Ruthie is an east coast transplant. Her first job was at the age of 13 serving ice cream at a popular shop near the intercoastal in the Sunshine State. She’s had many exciting service industry jobs since and found her way to the wine industry after graduating from the University of Central Florida. Many hours of contemplation, studying, and wine drinking prompted her to put down her couples counseling plans and pursue her dream to work with wine. One trip to Oregon that year prior was enough to seal the deal. She packed up her Jeep and her two cats and headed west with no idea how she was going to get her foot in the door.
Ruthie got her first job in the industry as a wedding and event coordinator for a local winery in 2011. She has worked in multiple tasting rooms since, became a venue manager, and also her real estate license. To Ruthie’s delight, Ken Wright welcomed her to the family in March of 2020 thanks to the suggestion of Julianne Kennedy.
On her days off, you can find Ruthie daydreaming out on the coast, hiking and gardening. She is also a member of the Aurora Historic Review Board and the North Marion County Library Association.
Big Congratulations to this year's winner of the Elk Cove Harvest Crew GOLDEN BUNG HUNT! Spin Shady AKA Sidney rocked this year's competition, the first to put her name on our brand new award - from now on, each years winner will add their name to the plaque.
Spin Shady also won this year's Cellar Bingo. Congrats are also in order for Rosemary AKA Elissa who won the blackout round.
What are heck are these awards for? Associate Winemaker Heather Perkin does her best to make harvest crew training fun and informative, integrating some friendly competition, fun nicknames, and of course lots of hands-on cellar work. All of our Harvest Crew performed very well and are now officially trained for vintage 2021. Here's to a fantastic harvest season!
#cellarmastery #harvestcrew #vintage2021 #crushingit #crush2021 #goldenbung #barrelsandtanks #vendage #willamettevalleywine #yamhillcarltonava #oregonwine...
“Willamette Valley and its sub-AVAs”.
Part 4/4
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Furthest South and East is the Eola-Amity Hills AVA consisting of 40,000 acres with 2,800 planted acres. Tilted layers of rocky volcanic basalt and sedimentary sandstone that are well drained and cool breezes from the Van Duzer Corridor keep acids high and concentrate flavors in the wines. .
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Eola-Amity Pinots are known for the intense black pepper notes with high acid, concentrated fruit notes and a strong tannic structure. Notable producers in Eola-Amity are: linguafrancawines , walterscottwines , evening_land , faillawinesoregon , bethelheightsvineyard , brynmawrvineyards and brookswinery .
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The newest AVA, as of 2019, is the Van Duzer Corridor directly to the west of Eola-Amity. This area, similar to the Petaluma Gap in California, funnels cool air in from the Pacific to dry and cool the vines during the summers and temper the cold in the spring and fall.
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Almost 60,000 acres in area with only 1,000 acres planted the AVA boasts consistent high-quality grapes with thicker skins for fuller body and more tannic structure. The first six Van Duzer producers are: vanduzervineyards , johanvineyards andantevineyard firesteedwinery , chateaubiancawinery and leftcoastwine . .
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And that’s all from Oregon, see you next time!
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At the yamhillcarlton Summer Tasting resonancewines today with all of our favorite neighbors. Are you coming? #summertasting #yamhillcarltonava #winetasting...