The Whistling Ridge vineyard sits atop the ridgeline that forms the backbone of the prestigious Ribbon Ridge AVA.It’s picturesque views down across the Willamette Valley are bewitching and idyllic. Rows of Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay bask in Oregon’s warm dry summer heat. Shallow sedimentary soils are only a few inches thick, leaving the vines in a constant struggle for moisture.  These non-irrigated vines force their way through hardpan and basalt rock searching for any hint of moisture to help them survive the summer heat. Pinot Noir from this vineyard comes into being complex and tightly wound, and the white wines with a bead of minerality and nerve focused by the constant breeze that shows up in the evenings.

Since 2002 Winter’s Hill has been an integral part of Matello Pinot Noir production. Our block was planted in 1990 to the Pommard clone of Pinot Noir. Located in the Dundee Hills AVA, the soils at Winter’s Hill are volcanic. The vineyard is certified LIVE. Our block is not irrigated and the Gladhart family have made the commitment to responsible farming that is becoming a signature of small Oregon farms. Our single vineyard bottlings from this vineyard continue to be among the most sought after and highly regarded of the Matello Pinot Noirs.

Planted in 1988-90, located in the Yamhill-Carlton District this vineyard has a number of details that make it special. Phylloxera hasn’t hit yet, so the vines are own rooted (not grafted), closely spaced, and non-irrigated. Vineyard manager Jeremy Saville and I have always shared a common view of Pinot Noir and his personal attention to detail and applied common sense are among the strongest reasons I work with this vineyard. It’s farmed sustainably (certified LIVE) without pesticides or herbicides, allowing me to feel the satisfaction of producing a wine that I am proud of on all levels.

Often the aspects of a vineyard that make it unique can be intangibles, hard to see in a superficial look at elevation, clones, soil types, etc. It’s hard to communicate Mike and Patty Green’s approach to farming at Deux Vert. They have the courage to explore varietals, like Syrah, Viognier, and Tempranillo, often considered too risky for the northern Willamette Valley's cool climate. They have a set of values they farm by, and are dedicated to, but not dogmatic about. The vineyard is viewed as a place but also as a community, where the health of the workers who care for the plants is viewed as equally important as the health of the plants. So really it’s a perfect fit.