2014 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States of America
Only white wine received from Willamette Valley Vineyards. Clear pale yellow. Complex nose with a ton of crisp green apples, light honeysuckle, pears, some stone fruits and very floral. There was a slight pinch of almost caramel in the undertones. A little sharp on the palate that builds up and hits the roof of your mouth. Light bodied with moderate acidity (6.5/10). Lots of white fruits, green apples and melon. Needs time to even out, a little unbalanced. Moderate finish with some metallic and mineral notes.
Williamette Valley Vineyards (WVV) was established in 1983 by Jim Bernau who has had a profound influence on sculpting the wine region in Oregon. Starting in 1981 Jim represented the Oregon Winegrowers in the passage of the Oregon Wine Advisory Board promoting the industry. Later on WVV was grandfathered into federal law when the American Viticultural Area was federally authorized. Aside from promoting the wine industry in Oregon, Jim also was recognized for creating the first system of environmental stewardship in American agriculture, the Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) certification, along with receiving the first "Hero of Salmon" award by Salmon Safe. Additionally in the wine industry he was recognized and honored with the Los Heroes de Salud! award for contribution in providing healthcare to Oregon's vineyard workers. There are over 9,000 wine enthusiast shareholders vested in WVV, this was possible because Jim conducted the first "crowd funding" for a winery to build WVV by obtaining permission from the SEC in 1988, expanding the laws for community based funding for small businesses.
This bottling is made of 100% Pinot Gris, whole pressed and fermented in stainless steel and sure lee aged for around 5 weeks. Joe Ibrahim is the winemaker for WVV, his career in the wine industry started when he interned for a small family-owned winery in Northern Vermont, next step was Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estate in Washington State, then was offered a position at Gallo Family where he learned to make sparkling wine and spirits, last stop before WVV was Edna Valley Vineyards where he truly learned about making cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
2016 till 2019.
Price Point:
$ - Sample provided by the Estate. Can be purchases at the Estate or online for $16.00.