Adelsheim Pinot Noir

What is better than a bottle of Adelsheim Pinot Noir? How about 10 bottles.
On March 21st this past month Portland Confrerie had a chance to sample a vertical of Adelsheim Wineries Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. We tasted the years from 1988 through 1997. Below is a bit of the history of the winery from the humble beginnings to the present. Click on the below tasting notes to see my personal take on these wines. What I appreciate about these wines is that one of the pioneering families of the Oregon wine business (David and Ginny Adelsheim) are still very actively involved with this business. The moxie that these early grape growers and wine producers had just continues to amaze me (conventional wisdom was that the Willamette Valley was too cool to produce vinifera grapes). Well, we all know how this story turned out. So, a tip of the hat to the Lett's, Adelsheim's, Erath's, Campbell's, & Fuller's for taking a big chance and leading to where we are today

Adelsheim Pinot Noir

1971

On a beautiful June day in 1971, David Adelsheim and Ginny Adelsheim stood above an open field and were taken with the beauty of its orange and purple wildflowers. Five hundred feet below, Oregon's north Willamette Valley stretched out in a patchwork of orchards, pasture and native trees. The field, rich with clay-loam soil, had a gentle southern exposure and was sheltered by the Chehalem Mountains. The Adelsheims had dreamed of planting a vineyard in the area since returning from a summer in Europe, where they were inspired by the artisanal foods and wines they encountered.

1972

In 1972, the Adelsheims began planting their original 15-acre vineyard at Quarter Mile Lane with Pinot noir, Chardonnnay, Pinot gris, and Riesling, relying on family and friends for assistance. Although the Chehalem Mountains were, at this time, an unproven viticultural area, the Adelsheims were undaunted in pursuit of their dream to produce exceptional wines in Oregon's north Willamette Valley.

1978

Working in a cramped basement winery with a simple crusher and press, and 20 Burgundy barrels, David Adelsheim made Adelsheim Vineyard's first 1,300 cases of wine for commercial release in 1978; tiny quantities of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Riesling from the estate vineyard were produced, along with Semillon and Merlot. As the Quarter Mile Lane vineyard matured to full yield and grapes were purchased from other growers, annual production doubled every two years.

1982

As Adelsheim Vineyard continued to grow, the need for a new production facility became critical. A 6,000 square-foot winery, adjacent to the Adelsheim's home, was built in 1982. Barrels, tanks, a bottling line and still more barrels were added until this winery was also filled to capacity.

1989

The first vineyard expansion was in 1989, with the lease of a 19-acre site across the road from the original estate vineyard at Quarter Mile Lane. Today, Bryan Creek Vineyard remains an important source of Pinot noir, Pinot gris and Pinot blanc. A 52-acre site was also purchased at a lower elevation in the Chehalem Valley. Planted with Pinot gris and Burgundian clones of Pinot noir and Chardonnnay, the Calkins Lane Vineyard is also home to the current Adelsheim Vineyard winery.

1994

Co-owners Jack and Lynn Loacker joined Adelsheim Vineyard in 1994, and began planting Ribbon Springs Vineyard in 1995. This exceptional 120-acre site on the Ribbon Ridge spur of the Chehalem Mountains has provided Pinot noir and Pinot gris grapes since 1998.

1997

In 1997, a state-of-the-art, 35,000 square-foot, gravity-flow winery was completed at Calkins Lane Vineyard. Combining function with understated elegance, this 40,000 case capacity facility provides the quality controls demanded by a "hands-off" winemaking approach. A two-level, gravity-flow fermentation room allows for gentle grape movement and four underground barrel caves utilize pre-cast concrete arches and temperature-controlled floors to provide optimal temperature and humidity for slow, cool aging of their Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.

2001

Bringing with him twelve years experience in working with Pinot noir, Dave Paige joined Adelsheim Vineyard as winemaker in September of 2001. Dave provides fresh vision regarding winemaking techniques and equipment and applies great passion for balance in crafting their fruit-driven, richly-textured wines.

2006

The addition of Viticulturist Chad Vargas to the Adelsheim Vineyard team in the fall of 2006 brought a new level of intellectual ability to our vineyard operations. His BS and MS degrees in Crop Science and Plant Pathology support advances in viticulture, and thus fruit quality, leading to even further consistency and intensity in the wines we produce. His leadership in getting our estate vineyards certified under the LIVE program has put us in the forefront of vineyard operations.

2008

An extensive addition to the winery on Calkins Lane was completed in September 2008. The new facilities have given winemaker Dave Paige the ability to bring in more fruit at one time than was previously possible. Two sorting tables and extra fermentation space ensure that we always have the fermentation capacity to match harvest demands. The addition also further facilitated our ability to craft small lots that will insure a greater variety of distinctive single vineyard Pinot noirs.

2009

Our new tasting room was unveiled to the public in April 2009. For the first time in our company's history, we are now able to match the facility to the high level of hospitality, customer service and wine quality that we provide to our visitors. This well thought-out and designed space offers beautiful views of our Calkins Lane Vineyard. With an emphasis on upper-tier Pinot noirs and a tour program created to provide our guests an elegant experience, the Adelsheim tasting room is a "must visit" destination during your next stay in wine country.

TODAY

Today, the Adelsheim Vineyard estate has grown to include eleven exceptional vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, totaling 190 acres. A new generation of experienced wine industry professionals has joined with David Adelsheim in our passionate endeavor to lead the industry in crafting consistently transcendent wines.