Our vineyards

The largest AVA in Oregon, both in total area and vineyard plantings, is dominated by three major soil types: ancient marine sedimentary ocean-uplifted soils, volcanic basalt soils, and windblown loess silt loams. The broad river valley of the Willamette is framed on both sides by protective mountain ranges: The high, imposing Cascade Mountains on its eastern boundary and the lower-lying Coast Range on its western flank, which serves as a buffer to the cold storms and winds that arise in the Pacific Ocean just 45 miles from the valley. While the Willamette Valley AVA officially stretches from Portland in the north to just beyond Eugene at its southernmost boundary, the majority of the vineyards we source from for Limited Addition are in the “North Valley,” where there are ten official subregions. We work with growers in at least six of these and are expanding each year.

The largest AVA in Oregon, both in total area and vineyard plantings, is dominated by three major soil types: ancient marine sedimentary ocean-uplifted soils, volcanic basalt soils, and windblown loess silt loams. The broad river valley of the Willamette is framed on both sides by protective mountain ranges: The high, imposing Cascade Mountains on its eastern boundary and the lower-lying Coast Range on its western flank, which serves as a buffer to the cold storms and winds that arise in the Pacific Ocean just 45 miles from the valley. While the Willamette Valley AVA officially stretches from Portland in the north to just beyond Eugene at its southernmost boundary, the majority of the vineyards we source from for Limited Addition are in the “North Valley,” where there are ten official subregions. We work with growers in at least six of these and are expanding each year.

The Chehalem Mountains AVA, home to some of the oldest vineyards and wineries in the Willamette Valley, consists primarily of marine sedimentary Willakenzie series soils that are free-draining and relatively nutrient-poor. Establishing cover crops is important for vine health in this AVA. The Chehalem Mountains Vineyard that we work with is farmed biodynamically and provides our Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, Gamay Noir (358 clone), and Grüner Veltliner. It is a moderately high-elevation site, around 700 feet, that faces west toward the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The vineyard is a steep, hilltop farm surrounded by Douglas fir forest and farmlands. Wines from the Chehalem Mountains AVA tend to be elegant and perfumed, showing red fruit and spice flavors with silky tannin profiles.

The Yamhill-Carlton AVA is another region based around the free-draining, less vigorous Willakenzie marine sediment soil series. This amphitheater-shaped AVA is also one of the region’s warmest, as it stretches from the western boundary to its protected eastern slopes. The cool coastal wind influences tend to drop off around the west and south of the AVA, giving way to warmer eastern vineyard holdings east of the towns of Yamhill and Carlton. Some of the ripest, fruitiest styles of wine are made in this AVA, where ripening is never an issue and wines can easily develop power, structure, and dark blue and purple fruit profiles.

The Tualatin Hills AVA is one of the newer AVAs in the region, established in 2020, but it is home to some of the oldest vineyards, planted in the mid-1960s. This AVA is also one of the coolest, with its western edges sitting firmly in the coastal Tillamook corridor and the Gales Creek River valley, benefiting from the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean. Its soils are a mixture of Laurelwood windblown loess on the higher elevations and east-facing hills, with volcanic basalt bedrock, producing wines of elegance and freshness. This AVA produces high-acid, vibrantly fruited wines and is particularly well suited to aromatic varieties such as Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Muscat, and Riesling.

This ridge of hills extends north to south below the town of McMinnville, providing a very warm west-facing slope that captures the full impact of both the afternoon sun and the cooling winds that blow down the Van Duzer Corridor from the Pacific Ocean. The eastern side of these hills benefits from the gentle early morning sun that rises over the Cascades, creating a gradual warming during the growing season. Fruit in this AVA ripens later than fruit from the more northerly Chehalem Mountains and Ribbon Ridge AVAs. The bulk of the soils in this AVA are volcanic basalt, primarily Jory and Nekia (which is more shallow and rockier than Jory). Wines from this AVA tend to be very structured and darker in profile, with distinctive umami characters and compact tannins that can take time to resolve. These wines are complex, distinctive, and worthy of cellaring.

One of the few low-lying AVAs in the valley, the ancient marine sediment soils and riverbed terrain provide good drainage and reduce vigor, but the main character of the AVA comes from the cooling winds that sweep over the area, delaying ripening and flavor development. Wines from this region tend to be vibrant and high-toned, with both bright acidity and lively red fruits, and are typically lower in alcohol.