Oregon
Cool maritime
A cool, rainy Pacific Northwest state whose Willamette Valley Pinot Noir rivals Burgundy for elegance.
Overview
About Oregon
Oregon's modern wine industry began in the 1960s, when David Lett planted Pinot Noir and other Burgundian and Alsatian varieties at Eyrie Vineyards in the Willamette Valley in 1965. The Willamette Valley AVA, recognised in 1984, is home to most of the state's producers, and several sub-AVAs — Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Yamhill-Carlton and others — are known for Pinot Noir with a Burgundian restraint.
Oregon has some of the strictest labelling rules in the United States: a varietal wine must be at least 90% of the named grape, rather than the 75% required in most states.
Hover a marker to see what's grown there, and click it to open that place. On a touch screen, tap once to preview and again to open. Bigger markers have more grapes linked to them.
United States of America
Shaded: Oregon. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Cool maritime
Cool and maritime in the Willamette Valley, where the Coast Range shields vines from Pacific storms. Summers are warm and dry with cool nights, which preserve acidity, although rain at harvest can be a problem.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Three main soil types in the Willamette Valley: volcanic soils (notably Jory), marine sedimentary soils, and wind-blown loess (Laurelwood).
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Oregon uses the American AVA system, but with stricter grape rules than most of the United States.
AVA
Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley, Rogue Valley and others. At least 85% of the grapes must come from the area.
Varietal labelling
A varietal wine must be at least 90% of the named grape, with Cabernet Sauvignon allowed at 75%.
Oregon
A state-wide label, requiring the grapes to be grown in Oregon.
Within Oregon
Subregions
What's grown here
Grapes
Grapes linked to Oregon or to a place within it. Each grape's page links back here.