Willamette Valley Wines

Located in northwest Oregon, Willamette Valley is the largest AVA in the state encompassing over 1.3 million hectares, with only 11,000 actually under vine. Due to its size, it is diverse and has 11 sub AVAs to distinguish areas within it.

It is one of the coolest areas of Oregon, with the Pacific Ocean only 50 miles away, but has warm, dry summers with long sunshine hours (almost 2 more than Napa) giving the vines additional ability to ripen. Pinot Noir is the most impressive grape, making wines in a Burgundian style that rival the very best. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are also capable of making very good wines.

Willamette Valley's sub AVAs are: Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill-Carlton District, Van Duzer Corridor, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Laurelwood District, Tualatin Hills, Lower Long Tom and Mount Pishah, Polk County.