Yamhill Valley Vineyards

When the first vintage of Yamhill Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir took first place in the legendary Burgundy Challenge in 1985, owners Denis Burger, his wife Elaine McCall, and David Hinrichs knew they had achieved something truly great. Not only did their wine beat out 16 other notable Burgundy and Oregon wine producers, but it did so by exemplifying a dark complexity and distinct Yamhill Valley terroir.

From the beginning, Denis, Elaine, and David knew they needed great grapes to produce great wine, so in 1983 they purchased 34 acres and planted it to Pinot Noir. Over the next 29 years, they increased their vineyard to 150 acres, adding Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling to their portfolio of award winning wines.

Located in the foothills of Oregon’s Coast Range Mountains, their property enjoys a unique soil of heavy clay and marine sediments that helps produce wines with incredibly intense flavor and structure. Yet quality soil and weather are only part of the equation for producing great fruit. Winemaker Stephen Cary came on board in 1991, bringing 17 years of experience in the wine industry. He was joined by Carlos Escobar in 1994, and then Carlos’s wife Monica joined the team four years after that to manage the vineyard crew. Together, they ensure that all grapes are hand-picked, hand-sorted, and aged in mostly neutral French Oak barrels (Pinot noir) or stainless steel tanks (Pinot Blanc).

Recently, Wine Advocate awarded all three 2009 Yamhill Valley Pinot Noirs 90 points or more. Although the wines are praised wherever they’re opened, nothing beats enjoying them from the deck of the tasting room overlooking the serene, rolling vineyards. In the future, guests will also be able to tour the underground barrel hall. Through its dedication to quality vineyard practices and winemaking techniques, Yamhill Valley Vineyards continues to grow, produce, and bottle estate wines that bring forth the unique characteristics of the Yamhill Valley.