Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Casual, Confident and Honest. Acrobat wines are the result of determination to handcraft Oregon Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris of the highest quality. At the heart of these wines is the love of pairing an honest wine with casual meals and gatherings. Acrobat should always be an effortless selection – a wine that consistently pairs in every way with our lives. Striking a balance has been the goal of Acrobat from day one, bringing the complexity and pure flavors of Oregon’s classic growing regions to your palate. Embrace the moment, let these wines be your guide to indulgent exploration. It is this approachable purity that defines Acrobat wines. We believe that happy wines make happy people.
Acrobat wines are sourced from a spectrum of Oregon vineyards, spanning the three classic Western AVA’s – Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley. Each vineyard and AVA have distinct characteristics and provide their own flavor. This diverse geographical selection was done by design, giving Acrobat wines a balanced flavor profile of the state of Oregon. The map below is a sample of our partnering vineyards. Acrobat is artfully crafted in the gorgeous hills and valleys of western Oregon, with an eye on sustainable winemaking practices.
Home to some of America’s most celebrated Pinot Noir, Oregon maintains a tight focus on small production, high quality wine even while the state’s industry enjoys steady growth. As a world-renowned wine region, Oregon has more than 700 wineries and is home to well over 70 grape varieties. With a mostly Mediterranean climate, its cooler and wetter regions lie in the west, close to the Pacific Coast.
By far the most reputed Oregon wine region is the Willamette Valley, which is further subdivided into six smaller appellations: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill-Carlton.
The Oregon wine region's most obvious success story is with Pinot Noir, which here takes on a personality that could be described in general terms as somewhere in between the wines of California and Burgundy—and is often more affordable than either one. The best Willamette Pinot noir has a rare combination of red and black fruit, elegant balance, high acidity and rustic earth. While completely enjoyable in their youth, some of the better, single vineyard or appellation-specific Pinot noirs can often benefit from some cellar time.
Other AVAs in Oregon’s west worth noting include Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley.
In the east are Snake River Valley, which overlaps into Idaho, and Columbia Valley, which Oregon shares with Washington. Summers are hot and dry in these regions but winters are cold and rainy.
Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot blanc also grow successfully in Oregon.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.