FAQs About the Eola-Amity Hills (EAH) Winegrowing Region

What wine grapes are grown in the EAH AVA?

Wine grape cultivation in the Willamette Valley is thought, over all, to be most amenable to the so-called cool-climate grapes, and this is true of the EAH region as well. Although intrepid winegrowers experiment successfully with warm weather varieties, the predominant varieties are those of the European regions/countries of Burgundy, Champagne, Austria, and Germany. All derived from the European wine grape species called Vitis vinifera, we know them as Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot gris, and Pinot blanc. Smaller quantities of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Gewürtztraminer, Sauvignon blanc, and Gamay, among others are grown as well.

By far the predominant grape cultivated in the EAH AVA is the quintessential French variety, Pinot noir. Many cultivars of Pinot noir are known, and they each have their own flavor, aroma, and ripening characteristics. Except for the cultivar called Wädenswil, which was selected and propagated for Swiss conditions, these Pinot noir strains have come from France and are known by names such as Pommard or numbers such as 115, 667, 777, and 828, among others. The relationship between the cultivar and the terroir in which it is grown is critical and influences the quality of the grapes produced. Wine growers select the cultivars of Pinot noir most suitable to their vineyard site, and winemakers select and blend them to create the style of wine they wish.