Crawford Beck Vineyard

The Crawford Beck Vineyard (CBV) is a venture of David and Jeanne Beck, located in the Eola-Amity Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA) of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The Eola Amity Hills AVA is quite different from the other Willamette Valley AVAs, and the CBV is distinct in its own micro-terroir. Its soils are of volcanic origin, having been laid down by lava flows that occurred some 15 million years ago. These clay-loam soils overlay some ancient marine sediments that in many places are not far below the volcanic soils. Furthermore, the CBV lies on the gentle slopes of a swale that faces south-southwest, looking across the Willamette Valley toward the gap in the Coast Range through which cooling breezes flow into the Valley. These breezes blow steadily all summer, bathing the CBV slopes at night with relief from the day’s heat so essential for our grape varieties. The altitude of the CBV slopes ranges from 387 feet to 521 feet above sea level.

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Cherry Hill Vineyard

Our vineyard lies on south and southwest slopes at elevations from 250-450 feet, which offers the maximum degree days for fruit ripening.  Vines include Dijon (115, 777,113) and Pommard clones.

The Eola-Amity Hills are located about an hour south of Portland on the cusp of the Coastal Range that separates the Willamette Valley from the Pacific Ocean. The moderating influence of the Van Duzer corridor through the coastal range, combined with the bowl-like shape of our site, provides ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir.

Cherry Hill vineyard was planted in 1998 after extensive soil analysis revealed that the native Jory soils were beautifully suited to pinot noir.  Jory subsoils present in the vineyard include nekia, hazelair, chehulpum, steiwer and bellpine.

The cool climate and rich soil combine to create Pinot Noir fruit of deep color, complex aromas, and distinctively concentrated flavors.  We’re blessed to have a variety of soils, facings and elevations to work with, and learning to ‘paint’ with this varied palette is one of our most exciting prospects for the future.  As Mike Sweeney (Cherry Hill Vineyard owner) likes to say, “God was good to Cherry Hill.”

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard

The Ribbon Ridge Vineyards site is located on the shoulder of Ribbon Ridge in Yamhill County in close proximity to Chehalem’s Ridgecrest Vineyard, Beaux Freres Vineyard, Brick House Vineyard, Whistling Ridge Vineyard and Patricia Green Cellars. The predominant soil type has long been considered Willakenzie clay loam, though more recent surveys indicate a variety of clay loam soils on Ribbon Ridge, with six related soil types found in Ribbon Ridge Vineyards.

The Pommard clone of Pinot Noir (also known as UCD5) was one of the first clones of Pinot Noir grown in Oregon. Its characteristics include aromas of blue/black fruits, Marion berries, spice, earth and at times game or meat, and typically has good color, great structure, with both width and length.

The Dijon 777 clone is one of the newest generation of clones planted in Oregon. It yields complex and well-defined aromas of wild strawberries, cassis, red currants, cinnamon, minerals and black raspberries. Wines produced from Dijon 777 are typically deep, rich and powerful in the mouth with a broad mid-palate that is focused by soft ripe tannins. The combination of clones is expected to deliver a deep and elegant Pinot Noir with spicy fruit, soft tannins, and great structure.

The initial 9 acres of vines has been divided into seven sections based on slope and soil conditions. The Dijon 777, which ripens earlier than the Pommard was planted in the sections that have a slightly Eastern slope while the Pommard was planted in the sections that slope due South or slightly to the West. 53% of the vineyard is planted in Pommard and 47% planted in Dijon 777.