Unexpected turn in Oregon wines | Wine Unpacked

As our Willamette Valley wine industry expanded and matured, it became clear that we had many prime vineyard sites, mostly growing pinot noir, that were worthy of single-vineyard status. In addition, our long-held interest in tempranillo and syrah as some of the world’s best red varietals, was piqued by the vineyards in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley and Eastern Oregon’s rugged Columbia Gorge. We created the Trouvère label to showcase small-lot, limited production wines from these dramatic AVAs. We partnered with Santa Barbara artist Mary Heebner to launch the series. Her figurative collage titled First Moon Passage 8, is an abstract rendering that captures the unique personality of Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley.

Fruit-driven and polished, velvety tannins wrap around a black-fruited core. Finishes with pink peppercorn, dried herbs, and cedar.

As our Willamette Valley wine industry expanded and matured, it became clear that we had many prime vineyard sites, mostly growing Pinot Noir, that were worthy of single-vineyard status. In addition, our long-held interest in tempranillo and syrah as some of the world’s best red varietals, was piqued by the vineyards in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley and Eastern Oregon’s rugged Columbia Gorge. We created the Trouvère label to showcase small-lot, limited production wines from these dramatic AVAs. We partnered with Santa Barbara artist Mary Heebner to launch the series. Her diptych titled Tango at Segesta reminds us of the dramatic climatic zones found in the Umpqua Valley. The warmer growing conditions at the Southern end of the AVA are perfectly suited for this noble Spanish grape.

Medium-bodied with elegant, fine-grained tannins and richly layered flavors of plum, strawberry, vanilla, sweet tobacco, and white pepper.

As our Willamette Valley wine industry expanded and matured, it became clear that we had many prime vineyard sites, mostly growing pinot noir, that were worthy of single-vineyard status. In addition, our long-held interest in tempranillo and syrah as some of the world’s best red varietals, was piqued by the vineyards in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley and Eastern Oregon’s rugged Columbia Gorge. We created the Trouvère label to showcase small-lot, limited production wines from these dramatic AVAs. Other unique wines include Indigene, exclusive to our Estate Vineyard, which is created from a white grape mutation of pinot gris which we have been cultivating for over two decades. We partnered with Santa Barbara artist Mary Heebner to launch the series. The painting we chose for Indigene titled Basaltic Caves is a nod to the complex soils found in the Willamette Valley, including the basalt-based volcanic soils that define the Dundee Hills .

Fruit-driven and softly textured with vibrant acidity, this wine delivers flavors of baked apple, apricot, cardamom, and lemon curd.