![]() ![]() The first five acres of wine-grapes were planted in 1983 by the O’Briens. Upon the O’Brien’s retirement in 2007, the vineyard was contracted under a long-term lease to Willamette Valley Vineyards. Owned by Dick and Betty O'Brien, the vineyard was planted on land inherited from Betty’s parents, Elton and Peggy Ingram – hence the name Elton Vineyard and the address on Ingram Lane. In 2007, Elton Vineyard was named one of Oregon’s top ten vineyards by Wine Press Northwest, and in 2006 Wine & Spirits listed it as one of the five key vineyards in the new Eola-Amity Hills American Viticultural Area. Below the topsoil layer is deep jory clay, which has a high water holding capacity to sustain the vine during drought conditions. Some say "pisolites" add more rose petal aromas to the wines produced from this soil. The top layer is also riddled with deposits of unique, iron concretions called “pisolites” and are caused by the weathering of the minerals. This feature allows any excess topsoil moisture to drain away from the vine’s feeding roots. The top twenty-four inches is a distinct layer of well-drained silt loam deposited from a volcanic eruption of Mt. ![]() The unique Laurelwood soil profile at Tualatin has also contributed to the complex nature of the wines. This will yield wines that are more consistent from year to year as well as more complex structurally due to the clonal diversity. The new plantings are spaced at twice the plant density of the original vineyard to improve vineyard ripening potential by limiting the crop on a per plant basis. ![]() Our most recent plantings reflect the site’s affinity to ripening Pinot Noir, with forty-five new acres planted to seven different French clones, all grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. It is planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Muscat and Pinot Blanc. The site is located in the coastal rain shadows near Forest Grove, Oregon. The name “Tualatin” originates from local indigenous people and means “gentle and easy flowing,” referring to the Tualatin River that meanders on its way to the confluence with the Willamette River. Tualatin Estate Vineyard is proudly owned through a merger accomplished in 1997 with Willamette Valley Vineyards. This is a feat unduplicated by any Oregon winery. Tualatin’s Pinot Noir captured the Governor’s Trophy, Oregon’s most prestigious wine award, two years consecutively in 19. Tualatin is the only vineyard to have won the Best of Show for both the red and white categories at the London International Wine Competition in the same year. Wine grapes from this 171-acre vineyard have produced world-renowned wines for more than 45 years. Tualatin Estate Vineyard, established in 1973, is one of the oldest and most respected vineyard sites in Oregon. Tualatin Estate Vineyard Forest Grove, Oregon Wines made from this vineyard exude a sense of place and display complexity, elegance and balance. Additionally, a portion is planted in Pinot Gris and Dijon Clone Chardonnay 76 and 96. It is primarily planted with Pinot Noir Dijon clones 667, 777, Pommard and Wadenswil. The Estate Vineyard has a total of 67 acres of vines planted, with the first Dijon clones grafted in 1993. The Nekia and Jory soils are well drained to a depth of two and a half to six feet. Because this soil is so old, estimated to be 10 to 14 million years old, rain water has percolated through this now acidic soil, breaking down the basalt, allowing the roots to tap down. The soil type is typically a clay loam, which is permeable to roots, retentive of moisture and runs five to seven feet deep. At this elevation and slope, the temperature is approximately 10 degrees cooler than the valley floor during the day. As a result, the vines get excellent air drainage and are above the frost line. The vineyard site rises from 500-750 feet in elevation with seven to twelve degree slopes tilted toward the sun. Wine grapes were first planted in 1983 by Founder Jim Bernau. The pioneering Jory family who first farmed the hill-site found the ancient volcanic, iron-rich soil to be ideal for dark, thin-skinned plums, which they dried into prunes. ![]() The Estate Vineyard, located south of Salem, is planted on an old west-to-southwest facing volcanic flow. Willamette Valley Vineyards Turner, Oregon ![]()
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