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The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater

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Rocks District of Milton-Freewater

Established: 2015
Total Area: 3,770 acres (1,525 ha)
Planted Area: 330 acres (138 ha)*
Predominant Soils: Basalt cobbles and gravels (Freewater series)
Predominant Varieties: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache

*Updated November 1, 2018

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The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater is wholly contained within both Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley AVAs and is found in northeastern Oregon, 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Pendleton, Oregon and five miles (eight km) south of Walla Walla, WA. The Rocks District occupies a very gently sloping alluvial fan that was deposited by the Walla Walla River where it exits the foothills of the Blue Mountains and enters the broad flat floor of the Walla Walla Valley. Elevations range from 800 to 1,000 feet (245-305 m).

Most days during the growing season are sunny and clear with very low humidity, so large daily temperature variations are common. During summers, the region often experiences 5-10 days with temperatures exceeding 100 °F (38 oC).

The unique soils of The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater are its defining characteristic. They consist of pebbles and cobbles of basalt (dark volcanic rock) in a matrix of sand and silt. The rocky soil is extremely well drained, encouraging the vines to root deeply, and the dark rocks efficiently transfer heat into the soils and radiate heat to the ripening grapes. The Rocks District is the only AVA in the United States whose boundaries were determined by a single land form and a single soil series.

Wines produced from this region showcase a lovely perfumed bouquet with a savory palate and a prominent, lingering minerality on the finish.

Region History:

Wine grape production in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater was initiated by Italian emigrants who first arrived in the area in the 1860s. By the early 1880s, the region was producing thousands of gallons of wine, mostly for consumption by miners in the gold fields of northern Idaho. A series of very cold winters in the late 1880s, combined with the end of the gold rush, forced the farmers to turn most of their vineyards into orchards. However, many farmers maintained small vineyards and continued to produce limited quantities of wine for family and friends. Isolated wild vines that are the remnants of these small family vineyards can still be found in The Rocks District.

The modern era of wine production began in the 1990s when vineyards planted by winemakers in the region earned acclaim for producing wines with sumptuous aromas and unique flavor profiles. By 2015, the cobble soils near Milton-Freewater hosted more than 280 acres (115 ha) of vineyards and The Rocks District was approved as Oregon’s 18th AVA.

Ribbon Ridge

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Ribbon Ridge

Established: 2005
Total Area: 3,500 acres (1,400 ha)
Planted Area: 620 acres (250 ha)
Predominant Soils: Marine sedimentary (Willakenzie series)
Predominant Varieties: Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Riesling, Gamay noir

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Ribbon Ridge is a 6.1 mi2 (15.8 km2) ridge within the Chehalem Mountains AVA, located 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Portland and 40 miles (64 km) east of the Pacific Ocean. The ridge rises 683 feet (208 m) from the Chehalem Valley floor, giving it an island-like appearance. Protected by geographical features to the north, south and west, Ribbon Ridge’s grapegrowing hillsides are slightly warmer and drier when compared to the adjacent valley floors.

The Ribbon Ridge region is comprised primarily of the Willakenzie series of sedimentary soil. Willakenzie is a younger, finer and more uniform soil series than the sedimentary and volcanic soils of neighboring regions. It is moderately deep and well-drained, making it ideal for growing high-quality wine grapes and results in Pinot noirs with rose petal, dark cherry, earthiness and spice complexity.

Region History:

In 1980, Harry Peterson-Nedry planted the first wine grapes on Ribbon Ridge at his Ridgecrest Vineyards. Two years later, the first commercial vineyard was established with the planting of 54 acres of Pinot noir and Chardonnay, and Yamhill Valley Vineyards first used these grapes to make wine in 1985. Other vineyards were soon planted in this relatively small ridge. The appellation became official in 2005.

Red Hill Douglas County

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Red Hill Douglas County

Established: 2005
Total Area: 5,600 acres (2,200 ha)
Planted Area: 460 acres (185 ha)*
Predominant Soils: Volcanic
Predominant Varieties: Pinot noir, Pinot gris

*Updated Feb. 2020

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Red Hill Douglas County is a single-vineyard AVA wholly contained within the Umpqua Valley AVA. Vines sit between 800 and 1,200 feet (245-365 m) and do not benefit as much from the protection of the Coast Range, resulting in cooler growing season temperatures.

Red Hill Douglas County is dominated by iron-rich, red volcanic Jory soils, which were formed from the uplifting of ancient volcanic basalt. They are mostly deep and considered premier wine grape growing soils.

Wines from this region tend to be leaner with more structure compared to other AVAs within Southern Oregon.

Region History:

The Applegate and Scott families, pioneers of Southern Oregon, settled at the foot of Red Hill in the mid-1800s. Jesse Applegate planted Douglas County’s first established vineyard in Yoncalla in 1876. Red Hill Douglas County appellation was approved in 2005.

McMinnville

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McMinnville

Established: 2005
Total Area: 36,900 acres (14,900 ha)
Planted Area: 750 acres (305 ha)
Predominant Soils: Marine sedimentary, marine bedrock and volcanic
Predominant Varieties: Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Riesling, Pinot blanc

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The McMinnville AVA is contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, sitting in the Coast Range foothills just west of the city of McMinnville, approximately 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Portland. Geologically, the most distinctive feature in this area is the Nestucca Formation, a 2,000-foot (610 m) thick bedrock formation that extends west of the city of McMinnville to the slopes of the Coast Range. This formation is weathered sedimentary and volcanic soil sitting on top of marine bedrock, which affects the region’s ground water composition, forcing vines to struggle and produce complex fruit.

Compared to surrounding areas, McMinnville is, on average, cooler and drier, consisting of higher elevation vineyards (up to 1,000 feet (305 m)) that are resistant to frost. Vineyards situated on the more southerly facing sites take advantage of the cooling winds from the Van Duzer Corridor, a break in the Coast Range that allows cool Pacific Ocean air to flow through, thus dropping evening temperatures in the region, which helps to keep grapes retain their acidity as they ripen.

Pinot noirs from McMinnville typically exhibit a strong backbone of tannin with darker fruit flavors that are rounded out by spice, mineral and earth notes. White wines from this region are bright and fruit-forward.

Region History:

The McMinnville area has a long farming history that dates back to the mid-1800s when berry fields, tree fruits and livestock dominated. All that began to change when, in 1970, one of Oregon’s winemaking pioneers, David Lett, bought an old turkey processing plant in the city of McMinnville to house his winery. Soon after, winegrowers began planting vineyards and establishing wineries in the area and, in 1987, McMinnville held the very first International Pinot Noir Celebration. Held every July since, it’s a wildly popular three-day event where winemakers and enthusiasts from all over the world congregate for Pinot noir tastings, winery tours and seminars. The McMinnville AVA was established in 2005.

Eola-Amity Hills

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Eola-Amity Hills

Established: 2006
Total Area: 39,200 acres (15,900 ha)
Planted Area: 3,040 acres (1,230 ha)
Predominant Soils: Marine sedimentary and volcanic
Predominant Varieties: Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gamay noir

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The Eola-Amity Hills AVA is contained within the Willamette Valley AVA and is located northwest of Salem, Oregon’s state capitol. The main ridge of the Eola Hills runs north-south and has numerous lateral ridges on both sides that run east-west. The majority of the region’s vineyard sites exist at elevations between 250 to 700 feet (75-215 m).

The climate in the Eola-Amity Hills is greatly influenced by its position due east of the Van Duzer Corridor, which provides a break in the Coast Range that allows cool Pacific Ocean air to flow through. This decreases temperatures in the region dramatically, especially during late summer afternoons, helping grapes retain their acidity as they ripen.

Soils in this region predominantly contain volcanic basalt from the Columbia River Basalt flows from more than 14 million years ago, as well as marine sedimentary rocks and alluvial deposits at the lower elevations of the ridge. This combination results in a relatively shallow, rocky set of well-drained soils, which typically produce small grapes with great concentration. Wines produced from this region offer high acidity, firm structure and a darker, edgier personality.

Region History:

The agricultural history of this area near Salem dates back to the mid-1850s, though it wasn’t until the 1970s that winemakers started to discover the area as having ideal growing conditions for high-quality wine grapes. It was around this time that a few modern pioneers, including Don Byard of Hidden Springs, planted a patchwork of vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills. Soon after, other pioneers followed suit and today this area produces world-class, handcrafted cool-climate varietals. The appellation became official in 2006.

Elkton Oregon

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Elkton Oregon

Established: 2013
Total Area: 74,900 acres (30,311 ha)
Planted Area: 305 acres (125 ha)
Predominant Soils: Clay loam
Predominant Varieties: Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling

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The Elkton Oregon AVA is situated 33 miles (53 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean. It is wholly within the Umpqua Valley AVA, which in turn lies within the larger Southern Oregon AVA. Elkton Oregon is the northernmost region in the Umpqua Valley. The Umpqua River weaves through the middle of the region, offering a cool afternoon breeze during the growing season.

Elkton Oregon vineyard soils are predominantly residual clay, silt loam soil, alluvial deposits and river terraces around the meandering Umpqua River. Clay soils retain water very well, resulting in less of a need to irrigate and lower yields.

In contrast to the rest of Southern Oregon, wines produced from this region are more often from cool climate varieties made in a lusher style, fuller in body with bolder fruit notes than those produced in the Willamette Valley.

Region History:

Winegrowing in Elkton dates back to the early 1970s when Ken Thomason began planting cool climate whites and Pinot noir. The first winery was established in 2000. Currently, there are four licensed wineries and 12 commercial vineyards totaling 96.5 planted acres (39 ha).