Editors: Estate Properties Vineyard and Country Living NW Real Estate
Above map courtesy of the Oregon Wine Board, https://www.oregonwine.org/regions/willamette-valley.
The Willamette Valley has a rich history for Oregon grape growers. This expansive region, starting east of Portland and following the ridges south toward Eugene, is home to 819 wineries and 1,016 vineyards, according to the 2022 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Report. With most of the AVAs (American Viticulture Areas) sitting in the upper northern corner, two distinguishable new AVAs are located in the southern region. The Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA and the Lower Long Tom AVA are unique in soil composition, climate and wines produced.
The Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA became the newest AVA in the Willamette Valley in July 2022. Currently hosting three wineries, 10 vineyards and 584 planted acres. It was Brad Ford of Illahe Vineyards who led the petition that brought the area into recognition as the 23rd federally acknowledged AVA in Oregon (Oregon Welcomes its 23rd American Viticultural Area (AVA), Oregon Wine Board 2023). This designation of a stand alone AVA grants significance to the region's distinct topography, climate, geology and soil that contributes to grapes with marked characteristics in the wines they produce.
According to the petition to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), elevations range from 260 ft in the valleys and 835 ft at the peak and sits surrounded by lower elevations in the Willamette Valley. This offers protection from the fast winds that sweep through the valley. The climate also experiences cooler temperatures in the summer (About the Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA, Oregon Wine Board 2023).
The Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA is one of the Willamette Valley's smallest AVAs, but also one of the more densely planted (Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA, Willamette Valley Wine). The soil from this region is a unique Siletz, from combinations of mostly Willakenzie, Bellpine, Jory and some Nekia (About the Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA, Oregon Wine Board 2023).
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Tempranillo are the leading wines produced of grapes from this AVA (Oregon Welcomes its 23rd American Viticultural Area (AVA), Oregon Wine Board 2023).
The Lower Long Tom AVA was established in November of 2021 and became the first AVA in the southern Willamette Valley area (Oregon Wine Board & Willamette Valley Wine, 2021). The petition was led by Dieter Boehm of High Pass Winery. Dieter told the Oregon Wine Press, “[a]fter I grew grapes here for 20 years, I knew we were different. Our fruit was showing excellent quality all around.”
The border of the Lower Long Tom AVA sits to the west of the Long Tom watershed, where the stream cuts along the ridge line. The Coast Range forms a rain shadow for the region and reduces the annual precipitation. What separates this AVA from the rest of the Willamette Valley is the predominant Bellpine soil. Bellpine is a composition of clay-loams that were lifted up marine sediments over long periods of time. The soil also features shallow sandstone, making the roots of the vines planted exert more effort to find water and nutrients. This soil and weather combination allow the vines to create an open canopy resulting in more light and air exposure for the grapes. This results in smaller sized grapes with thicker skins (About the Lower Long Tom AVA, Oregon Wine Board 2023).
Within the Lower Long Tom AVA are 12 wineries, 24 vineyards and 575 planted acres. The red wines produced with grapes of this region have notes of blue and black fruits with noticeable tannins. White wines are leading production with around a dozen varieties grown (Lower Long Tom AVA, Willamette Valley Wine). Pinot Noir still dominates in production. Sauvignon Blanc has become a top white wine produced with Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris also being featured (Wastradowski, Matt).
Though they may be new in receiving the AVA titles, both the Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA and Lower Long Tom AVA have had established vines for much of the history of the Willamette Valley. The grape growers and winemakers of the region have petitioned and won their own recognition for distinction from the overall perception of Willamette Valley wines. Even with established vineyards and wineries, as Brad Ford put it, “[i]t’s densely planted, but we have a bit of room to grow!” (Independence Hotel).
As real estate brokers who specialize in vineyards, wineries and small acreage real estate sales, we are often asked about the Willamette Valley wine growing region. We have several properties on the market that include vineyards, farms and small acreage properties that are available for sale. For additional information, please contact our team of real estate professionals. We can assist you with purchasing land in the Willamette Valley and throughout the Northwest. If you are considering the sale of your farm, ranch, vineyard, winery or small acreage property, call our knowledgeable team for a confidential consultation and complimentary real estate broker’s price opinion. Estate Properties Vineyard & Country Living Northwest Real Estate is here for you. Call 503-212-2718 or email us at vineyardandcountry@bhhsnw.com.
Click to View References
Oregon Wine Board 2023, Oregon Wine Board website, 2022 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Report, accessed 12 October 2023, <https://industry.oregonwine.org/resources/reports-studies/2022-oregon-vineyard-and-winery-report/>
Oregon Wine Board & Willamette Valley Wine. (2021, December 13). Oregon Welcomes its 22nd American Viticultural Area (AVA) [Press release]. https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/raw/upload/v1/clients/willametteor/Lower_Long_Tom_Press_Release_12_10_2020f724-f21e-4b88-876d-ef9ad3fe1c90.docx
Federal Register National Archives, Federal Register website, Establishment of the Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon Viticultural Area, accessed 20 October 2023, <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/06/03/2022-11715/establishment-of-the-mount-pisgah-polk-county-oregon-viticultural-area>
McDonald, Sophia, Oregon Wine Press website, At Long Last, accessed 20 October 2023, <https://www.oregonwinepress.com/at-long-last>
Oregon Wine Board 2023, Oregon Wine Board website, About the Lower Long Tom AVA, accessed 16 October 2023, <https://www.oregonwine.org/regions/willamette-valley/lower-long-tom-ava/>
Willamette Wines, Willamette Wines website (2023), Lower Long Tom AVA, accessed 16 October 2023, <https://www.willamettewines.com/about-the-valley/ava-overviews/lower-long-tom/>
Willamette Wines, Willamette Wines website (2023), About the Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA, accessed 16 October 2023, <https://www.willamettewines.com/about-the-valley/ava-overviews/mount-pisgah-polk-county-oregon/>
Oregon Wine Board 2023, Oregon Wine Board website, About the Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA, accessed 16 October 2023, <https://www.oregonwine.org/regions/willamette-valley/mount-pisgah-polk-county-oregon-ava/>
Oregon Wine Board 2023, Oregon Wine Board website, Oregon Welcomes its 23rd American Viticultural Area (AVA), accessed 19 October 2023, <https://industry.oregonwine.org/press-releases/oregon-welcomes-its-23rd-american-viticultural-area-ava/>
Wastradowski, Matt, Willamette Valley website, lower long tom ava becomes the willamette valley's newest ava, accessed 23 October 2023, <https://www.willamettevalley.org/lower-long-tom-ava>
Independence Hotel, The Independence Hotel website, Spotlight on Brad Ford and His Role in Willamette Valley’s Newest AVA, accessed 20 October 2023, <https://theindependencehotel.com/spotlight-on-brad-ford-how-his-work-led-to-the-willamette-valleys-newest-ava/>
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