Winemaker Notes
Erath’s 119-acre Willakia Vineyard is located in the prestigious Eola-Amity Hills Appellation. During the growing season, the region benefits from the temperature-moderating effect of the prevailing ocean breezes that flow through Van Duzer Corridor. The vineyard is divided into small blocks with diverse clones and rootstocks based on the aspects, slopes and orientations of the vineyard’sbeautiful rolling lands. These unique characteristics serve to complete Winemaker Gary Horner’s philosophy of producing small, single vineyard wines to achieve high-quality and unique interpretations of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. To date the vineyard is planted with 98 acres of Pinot Noir and 21 acres ofChardonnay. The vineyard is certified sustainably farmed under the LIVE and Salmon Safe programs.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This shows dried flowers, lemon rind, strawberries and hints of cedar. The palate is delicate with a good backbone of acidity, velvety tannins and a clean finish
Erath wines are an expression of the land that the winery has cultivated for more than 40 years, longer than any other winery in the Dundee Hills of Region. One of Oregon’s wine pioneers, Erath winery’s founder, Dick Erath, was driven by the belief that the future of Pinot Noir was in Oregon. The Oregon Pinot legacy, spirit and vision of founder Dick Erath continues to evolve under acclaimed winemaker Leah Adint. The love of winemaking has taken her around the world, giving her unique experiences that she brings to her role as Winemaker at Erath Winery. She is dedicated to upholding the incredible legacy of Erath’s winemaking and will continue the vision of pushing the envelope of making different and special wines.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Running north to south, adjacent to the Willamette River, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA has shallow and well-drained soils created from ancient lava flows (called Jory), marine sediments, rocks and alluvial deposits. These soils force vine roots to dig deep, producing small grapes with great concentration.
Like in the McMinnville sub-AVA, cold Pacific air streams in via the Van Duzer Corridor and assists the maintenance of higher acidity in its grapes. This great concentration, combined with marked acidity, give the Eola-Amity Hills wines—namely Pinot noir—their distinct character. While the region covers 40,000 acres, no more than 1,400 acres are covered in vine.