The year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Willamette Valley Wine Country: 50 years since David Lett planted the first commercial Pinot Noir vines in the Red Hills of Dundee.
It has been 50 years since 1965, when David and his bride Diana planted 3,000 vine cuttings and founded The Eyrie Vineyards. They had the theory that the best wines come from places where the grapes have to struggle to ripen, and, in time, they were proven right. The Letts were pioneers in the Willamette Valley as a wine region, and the Oregon Senate also played an important role. In 1973, it passed Senate Bill 100, allowing vintners across the state of Oregon to protect their ecosystem for agricultural rather than residential use. Orchards and vineyards benefitted from this bill, and the wine industry began slowly gaining a footing in the community.
Throughout the 1970s, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay became the grapes of choice in the Willamette Valley—chosen for their ability to thrive in the region’s soils and cooler temperatures. Several studies were conducted at Oregon State University to create the best-tasting wines available. Slowly, local wines became features on the menus of local restaurants.
Although the eruption of Mount St. Helen’s in the spring of 1980 took a toll on the vineyards, the state’s budding wine industry took it in stride. In fact, just a few months later, the first annual Steamboat Pinot Noir Conference was held at Roseburg’s Steamboat Inn, with the goal of “improving the breed.” Throughout the 1980s, Oregon gained more and more recognition. The state began receiving funds for research support, and it made its debut in the World Atlas of Wine. With this exposure came growth and the number of wineries expanded across the Willamette Valley.
In the past several years, Oregon has reached over 20,000 vineyard acres, making it one of the most essential attractions for winemakers and wine lovers alike. What began as a bold move by one visionary couple has evolved into a wine industry with tremendous sustainability practices. As Willamette Valley Wine Country has grown its vineyard and winery owners have tirelessly put the land first, through efforts to protect wildlife and conserve natural resources, teach biodiversity, and promote health and fertility for the soil.
For 50 years, the Willamette Valley has grown and evolved into something far greater than anyone could have imagined. This greatness is measured more by its principles than its tonnage or case production. This year we raise our glass to the Willamette Valley and look forward to the next 50 vintages waiting to be born.