Geography & Climate
The Willamette Valley is a large, fertile valley running south from the city of Portland. It is protected from the cold, wet weather of the Pacific Ocean by the Coast Range mountains, which creates a relatively dry and sunny, but still cool, growing season.
The climate is mild and maritime, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. This provides the long, gentle growing season that is perfect for ripening the fickle Pinot Noir grape, allowing it to develop complex flavors while retaining its signature acidity and elegance. The valley’s diverse soil types are a key factor in the complexity of its wines.
History of the Willamette Valley
While wine grapes were planted in Oregon in the 19th century, the state’s modern wine industry was born in the 1960s when a few intrepid pioneers from California, including David Lett of The Eyrie Vineyards, defied conventional wisdom and planted Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley. They believed the cool climate was a better match for Burgundian varieties than California’s heat.
Their gamble paid off spectacularly in 1979 when The Eyrie’s 1975 Pinot Noir placed in the top three at a blind tasting in Paris, putting Oregon on the world wine map and inspiring a wave of quality-focused producers to follow.