Willamette Valley AVA explained

Willamette Valley
Type:American Viticultural Area
Year:1984[1]
2016 Amended:[2]
Wine Years:1965 - present
Country:United States
Part Of:Oregon
Sub Regions:Chehalem Mountains AVA, Dundee Hills AVA, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Laurelwood District AVA, Lower Long Tom AVA, McMinnville AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA, Tualatin Hills AVA, Van Duzer Corridor AVA, Yamhill-Carlton District AVA
Climate Region:Maritime
Soil:Volcanic origin and weathered sedimentary loam
Total Size:5360sqmi
Grapes:Auxerrois, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cascade, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Gamay noir, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Marechal Foch, Melon, Merlot, Müller-Thurgau, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Tocai Friulano, Viognier[3]
Wineries:500

Willamette Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which lies in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The AVA is the wine growing region which encompasses the drainage basin of the Willamette River. It stretches from the Columbia River in the north to just south of Eugene in the south, where the Willamette Valley ends; and from the Oregon Coast Range in the west to the Cascade Mountains in the east. At 5360sqmi, it is the largest AVA in the state, and contains most of the state's wineries; approximately 908 as of 2021.

The AVA was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on January 3, 1984 after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. David B. Adelsheim, Chairman, Appellation Committee, Oregon Winegrowers Association, and owner of Adelsheim Vineyards, proposing a viticultural area in northwest Oregon, as part of the Willamette River Basin, to be known as "Willamette Valley." Since then, ten distinctly featured areas, referred as "sub-AVA" or "sub-appellation", were recognized within the Willamette Valley AVA, with nine of them in the northern region and the Lower Long Tom AVA in the southern.[4] The Willamette Valley has a cool, moist climate, and is recognized worldwide for its Pinot noir.[3]

Although not officially recognized, many wine connoisseurs further define the Willamette Valley into northern and southern regions with the demarcation being the latitude of Salem (approximately 45° north).[5]

Climate

The climate of Willamette Valley is mild year-round. Winters are typically cool and wet, summers are dry and warm; heat above 90°F only occurs 5 to 15 days per year, and the temperature drops below 0°F once every 25 years. Most rainfall occurs in the late autumn, winter, and early spring, when temperatures are the coldest. The valley gets relatively little snow (5inches to 10inches) per year.[6] The hardiness zone is mostly 8b.[7]

Not all portions of the Willamette Valley are suitable for vineyards, however, and the largest concentration of wineries is found west of the Willamette River, on the leeward slopes of the Coast Range, or among the numerous river and stream valleys created by Willamette River tributaries. By far, the largest concentration of wineries is in Yamhill County.[8]

Sub-appellations

There are ten American Viticultural Areas within the Willamette Valley AVA. These smaller AVAs recognize regions within the larger Willamette Valley AVA that have distinctive climate, soil, elevation, or other physical features that make them noteworthy for wine production.

Chehalem Mountains AVA

See main article: article and Chehalem Mountains AVA. The Chehalem Mountains AVA, established in 2006, stretches 20miles from Wilsonville in the southeast to Forest Grove in the northwest. The Chehalem Mountains includes Ribbon Ridge, Parrett Mountain, and Bald Peak. The petition process for the creation of the AVA began in 2001 and was led by David Adelsheim of Adelsheim Vineyard.[9] It contains two sub-regions, Laurelwood District AVA and Ribbon Ridge AVA.

Dundee Hills AVA

See main article: article and Dundee Hills AVA. The Dundee Hills AVA in the hills north and west of Dundee.[10] The area is 6940acres in total size, with 1300acres cultivated. Over 25 wineries and independent vineyards in this region produce over 44,000 cases of wine. The area is particularly noted for its Pinot noir; several wineries in the AVA have won international recognition for their wines.[11]

Eola-Amity Hills AVA

See main article: article and Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The Eola-Amity Hills AVA stretches from the town of Amity in the north to Salem in the south. The hills cover an area west of the Willamette River approximately 15miles long by 6miles wide. The Eola-Amity Hills area benefits from steady winds off the Pacific Ocean that reach the Willamette Valley through the Van Duzer corridor, a gap in the Oregon Coast Range, moderating the summer temperatures. The name Eola is a tribute to the windy conditions in the area, and is derived from Aeolus, the Greek god of wind.[12]

Laurelwood District AVA

See main article: article and Laurelwood District AVA. The Laurelwood District AVA is located west of the city of Portland and lies entirely within the Willamette Valley and Chehalem Mountains AVAs since it was established by the TTB in May 2020. It covers approximately 33600acres and contains 25 wineries and approximately 70 commercially-producing vineyards that cover a total of approximately 975acres. The distinguishing feature of the Laurelwood District is the predominance of the Laurelwood soil series.[13]

Lower Long Tom AVA

See main article: article and Lower Long Tom AVA. The Lower Long Tom AVA was established in 2021. It is located in the southern Willamette Valley in Lane and Benton Counties, near the towns of Junction City and Monroe.[4] Its coverage is approximately 25000acres and contains 12 wineries and 24 commercially-producing vineyards that plant approximately 575acres. As of 2022, the Lower Long Tom is the only nested appellation located in the southern Willamette Valley AVA, in contrast to nine nested appellations in the north.[14] The region is primarily known for its Pinot noir and Pinot gris.[4]

McMinnville AVA

See main article: article and McMinnville AVA. The McMinnville AVA near McMinnville was established in 2005, in the hills to the southwest of McMinnville, roughly running from McMinnville to Sheridan. The AVA includes 14 wineries and 523acres of vineyards, and includes lands with elevations ranging from 200 to 1000feet.[15] [16]

Ribbon Ridge AVA

See main article: article and Ribbon Ridge AVA. The Ribbon Ridge AVA, between Newberg and Gaston, is a ridge containing uplift of ocean sediment. It lies at 45° 21' N, 123° 04' W, at the northwest end of the Chehalem Mountains. The name originates in the 19th century. The ridge is approximately 0.25miles wide and 3.5miles long, and is 3350acres in area, with 500acres planted on 20 vineyards.[16] It is estimated that between 1000acres and 1400acres in the region is suitable for planting.[17] [18]

Tualatin Hills AVA

See main article: article and Tualatin Hills AVA. The Tualatin Hills AVA was established in May 2020 and is located in the upland hills of the Tualatin River watershed and encompasses elevations between NaNfeet. To the south and southeast are the Chehalem Mountains, which includes elevations of over 1000feet, are considered to be a separate, distinct landform from the Tualatin Hills. The AVA is approximately 144000acres with 33 commercially-producing vineyards covering approximately 860.5acres and 21 wineries. The distinguishing features of Tualatin Hills are its soils, elevation and climate.[13]

Van Duzer Corridor AVA

See main article: article and Van Duzer Corridor AVA. The Van Duzer Corridor AVA is located just west of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA covering approximately 59871acres. The Van Duzer wind AVA is known low elevations and gently rolling hills, cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean, and soils which are primarily uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with alluvial overlay. The AVA was established in 2019.[19]

Yamhill-Carlton District AVA

See main article: article and Yamhill-Carlton District AVA. The Yamhill-Carlton District AVA is located in the area surrounding the towns of Yamhill and Carlton. Only grapes grown in vineyards with elevations ranging from 200feet to 1000feet may be used to produce wines that bear the appellation name on their labels. The AVA includes over 1200acres of vineyard, and the region is in the rain shadow of the 3500feet Oregon Coast Range, a short distance to the west. The AVA was established in 2005.[16] [20] [21]

References

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Notes and References

  1. Establishment of the Willamette Valley Viticultural Area . . . 27 CFR 9 [T.D. ATF-162; Ref: Notice No. 4731] Final Rule . 48 . 232 . 54220-54222 . 1983-12-01.
  2. Expansion of the Willamette Valley Viticultural Area . . Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau . 27 CFR 9 [Docket No. TTB–2015–0008; T.D. TTB–134; Ref: Notice No. 152] RIN 1513–AC21 Final rule . 81 . 42. 11110-11113 . 2016-03-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20210423031020/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-03-03/pdf/2016-04710.pdf. 2021-04-23. live.
  3. Web site: Appellation America. 2007 . Willamette Valley (AVA): Appellation Profile. https://web.archive.org/web/20090316132419/http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Willamette-Valley.html . 2009-03-16 . January 29, 2008. live.
  4. Web site: Alberty . Michael . Lower Long Tom: Oregon's newest wine region wins the name game. . 2021-12-18. 2022-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222040055/https://www.oregonlive.com/wine/2021/12/lower-long-tom-oregons-newest-wine-region-wins-the-name-game.html. 2022-12-22 . live.
  5. Web site: Salem, OR, USA. LatLong.net.
  6. Web site: Oregon Climate Zone Summary: Zone 2 - The Willamette Valley. Oregon State University. https://web.archive.org/web/20080202054107/http://www.ocs.orst.edu:80/pub_ftp/reports/zone/Zone_2_narrative.html . 2008-02-02 . mdy-all.
  7. Web site: Plant Hardiness Zone . United States Department of Agriculture.
  8. Web site: North Willamette Valley Wineries Overview Map . Wines Northwest. Oregon's Willamette Valley Wine Country.
  9. Web site: Wines Northwest. Chehalem Mountains Becomes Oregon's Fifteenth American Viticultural Area. https://web.archive.org/web/20080517100138/http://www.winesnw.com/news_reviews/newsandreviews_chehalemAVA.htm. 2008-05-17. December 27, 2006 . mdy-all.
  10. Web site: Proposed Dundee Hills Viticultural Area (2002R-218P). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, United States Department of the Treasury. Federal Register. 2003-08-15. mdy-all.
  11. Web site: Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association Press Kit. https://web.archive.org/web/20090412020146/https://dundeehills.org/presskit.htm . 2009-04-12.
  12. News: Purdue, Andy. 2006-06-15 . Introducing the Eola-Amity Hills. Wine Press Northwest. https://web.archive.org/web/20080303035908/https://www.winepressnw.com/features/story/7979592p-7872921c.html . 2008-03-03 . January 29, 2009. mdy-all.
  13. News: Establishment of the Tualatin Hills and Laurelwood District Viticultural Areas . Federal Register . Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau . 2020-06-03 . 85 FR 34095 27 CFR 9 Doc#: 2020-10919 . 34095–34100 .
  14. Web site: Archer. LM. Southern Willamette Valley Earns its First AVA . Wine Business. 2021-12-12. 2022-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222045744/https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/254085. 2022-12-22 . live.
  15. Web site: Establishment of the McMinnville Viticultural Area (2002R-217P). Federal Register . January 18, 2005 . Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury.
  16. Web site: Willamette Valley AVAs . Willamette Valley Wineries. https://web.archive.org/web/20060815120518/https://willamettewines.com/avas.shtml . 2006-08-15. mdy-all.
  17. Web site: Ribbon Ridge AVA . Ribbon Ridge Vineyard . https://web.archive.org/web/20060105095903/https://www.ribbonridge.com/default.cfm?action=display&Essay_ID=138 . 2006-01-05. mdy-all.
  18. Web site: Establishment of the Ribbon Ridge Viticultural Area (2002R-215P). Federal Register . June 1, 2005. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury. mdy-all.
  19. Web site: Establishment of the Van Duzer Corridor Viticultural Area and Clarification of the Eola-Amity Hills Viticultural Area Boundary Description . December 14, 2018. Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury . en. mdy-all.
  20. Web site: Establishment of the Yamhill-Carlton District Viticultural Area (2002R-216P). Federal Register . October 7, 2003. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.
  21. Web site: Yamhill Carlton District (AVA): Appellation Profile. Appellation America. https://web.archive.org/web/20130908092013/http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Yamhill-Carlton-District.html . 2013-09-08. mdy-all.