Willamette Valley AVAs

General attributes that make the Willamette Valley region suitable for cool climate grape growing include the protection afforded by the Cascade Mountains to the east, Coast Range mountains to the west and a series of lower hill chains to the extreme north of the valley.  Almost all grape growing is done on lower hillsides, avoiding deeply fertile alluvial soils and cooler hilltop microclimates.

In 2002, a collaborative action of vineyards and wineries delineated and submitted to the TTB petitions to divide much of the northern part of the large Willamette Valley AVA into six more specific AVAs: Chehalem Mountains AVA, Dundee Hills AVA, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, McMinnville AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA, and Yamhill-Carlton AVA.

The Van Duzer Corridor AVA went into effect in January 2019, the Tualatin Hills AVA and Laurelwood District AVAs were approved in June 2020, and the Lower Long Tom AVA was established in November 2021. Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA was established in June 2022.

Chehalem Mountains AVA

Established on 26 November 2006, the Chehalem Mountains AVA is located in the Yamhill and Washington counties of northwestern Oregon and it contains two AVAs, Laurelwood District AVA and Ribbon Ridge AVA.  The Chehalem Mountains AVA corresponds to the Chehalem Mountains and is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA.  The region stretches 20 miles from Northwest of Wilsonville in the southeast to Forest Grove in the northwest featuring the elevations of Ribbon Ridge, Parrett Mountain and Bald Peak.

The Chehalem Mountains AVA is located 19 miles southwest of Portland and 45 miles east of the Pacific Ocean.  The region is defined by its namesake Chehalem Mountains, a single landmass made up of several hilltops, ridges and spurs with the tallest point, Bald Peak, at 1,633 feet above sea level.  These mountains, identified as the highest in the Willamette Valley, greatly impact the vineyards by sheltering them from winds blowing south through the Columbia Gorge.

It is the geography and climate that differentiate this AVA from others.  With such diversity of elevations, soils and aspects, this region offers wines of great complexity and intrigue. The cool climate and endless combinations of soils and elevations produce wines with defined structure, offering notes of strawberries and cherries in cooler vintages and darker fruit in riper years.  The Chehalem Mountains’ dramatic terrain and diverse soils make extremely complex and delicious wines

Volcanic soils, marine sedimentary soils and a distinct series of loess called Laurelwood can all be found throughout the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Most of the vineyards are planted between 200 and 1,000 feet elevation.  Due to its great diversity, leaders are continually working to learn the intricacies of the land and further define their region. In 2005, Ribbon Ridge, contained within the Chehalem Mountains AVA, was approved as an AVA defined by its Willakenzie series of sedimentary soil.

All three important hillside soil types are represented: basaltic, ocean sedimentary and loess (blown lake bed sediment), the predominant soil on the northern face of the Chehalem Mountains.

Within the almost 70,000 acres of the Chehalem Mountains AVA are over 2,600 acres of grape vineyards.  The most common grape varieties found growing in the Chehalem Mountains AVA are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay.

Dundee Hills AVA

Established on 29 November 2004, the Dundee Hills AVA is located in Yamhill County, Oregon.  Dundee Hills AVA is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, and is approximately 28 miles southwest of Portland, near the towns of Dundee and Dayton.  It is approximately 40 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, with protection from the ocean climate provided by the higher Coast Range of mountains.

The Dundee Hills are a north-south oriented line of hills on the western side of the Willamette River valley, roughly equidistant from Salem and Portland.  The AVA is bordered by Ribbon Ridge AVA and Chehalem Mountains AVA in the north and Yamhill-Carlton District AVA in the west.  The Willamette River wends its way past the small town of Dundee on the eastern edge of the hills.  Vineyards are planted on the south-east-facing slopes of the hills, at elevations up to 1000ft above sea level.

The Dundee Hills AVA is located slightly further inland than other Willamette Valley AVAs, meaning it escapes much of the rain and wind from the Pacific Ocean.  The area lies in the rain shadow of the Coast Mountains, and the Chehalem Mountains in the north protect it from the ocean winds that are funneled through the Columbia Gorge.

Some ocean influences do make their way into the Dundee Hills in the form of sea breezes, which help to cool the vineyards after warm sunshine during the day.  AVA rules dictate that local vineyards must be planted at more than 200ft above sea level, resulting in warmer nights and less frost and fog than down on the valley floor.  The region gets 30 inches to 45 inches of rainfall per year.

The Dundee Hills are the result of lava flows and tectonic activity. Their elevation means they were missed by the Missoula floods from Montana that spread deposits of silt throughout the lower land in the Willamette Valley.

As a result, the red, volcanic soils in the AVA – known here as Jory soil – differentiate it from the lower-lying ground. These soils are deep, free-draining, relatively infertile, and rich in iron – all excellent conditions for premium viticulture.

A lack of water in the soil will cause the vines to grow deep root systems in search of hydration, and the stress that this lack of water causes will force them to focus on berry production rather than leafy vegetation growth. The resultant wines have concentrated flavors and good structure.

The area is 12,500 acres in total size, with 2,225 acres planted with grapes.  Pinot Noir is, of course, the leading grape variety here, producing rich, complex wines with bright-red fruits, tantalizing spice, interesting minerality, and silky tannins.  Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay also feature in the Dundee Hills AVA wine portfolio.

Eola-Amity Hills AVA

Established on 16 July 2006, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA is located in Polk County and Yamhill County, Oregon.  It is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, and stretches from the city of Amity in the north to Salem in the south. The Eola-Amity Hills AVA covers an area west of the Willamette River approximately 15 miles long by 6 miles wide.  Eola-Amity Hills AVA is an AVA in the center of the Willamette Valley AVA in Oregon, just northwest of Salem.

The Eola-Amity Hills AVA has a unique terroir that sets it apart from the surrounding Willamette Valley AVAs.  Ancient lava flows and tectonic shift created the hills and the weathered basalt soils here have proven perfect for premium winemaking.

The Eola-Amity Hills AVA benefits from steady winds off the Pacific Ocean that reach the Willamette Valley through the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Oregon Coast Range, moderating the summer temperatures.  This bank of hills lies west of the Willamette River and runs for roughly 15 miles north-south between the towns of Amity and Eola.  All of the land within the AVA must lie at least 200 feet above sea level, and vineyards sit on both the sheltered eastern slopes and the more exposed western slopes of the hills.

Like most of the Willamette Valley, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA experiences a maritime climate that includes mild winters but summers that are cooler and wetter than the continental climate experienced by Washington State's wine regions to the north and the Mediterranean climate experienced by many of California's wine regions to the south.  The climate is influenced by the Pacific currents that escape through the Van Duzer corridor gap between the Oregon Coastal Range and the Cascade range to the east which keeps many weather currents from going much further east.  Through the Van Duzer, cool Pacific air comes more than 30 miles from the west in the afternoon to cool down the region, allowing the grapes to retain higher levels of acidity.

The majority of the year's rainfall comes between October and April with the peak months of growing season being relatively dry. However, harvest time in late September and October can bring the hazard of rain, grape rot and dilution caused by the vines absorbing too much water from the wet soils and funneling that into the grape berries.

The vineyard soils of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA include volcanic soils and shallow nekia series over ancient basalt beds. 

The elevation of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, which rise to around 1,000ft above sea level, meant that these alluvial soils largely missed the hills, making them better suited to viticulture.  Throughout the AVA are soil deposits left over from the Missoula floods.  Free-draining and rich in iron, these soils serve to stress vines, lessening vigor and yield, which helps to concentrate flavors in the grapes.

The Eola-Amity Hills AVA has around 2,400 acres of the Willamette Valley AVA's 39,045 acres planted to grape vines. 

The red and white wines made in Eola-Amity Hills are bright, fresh and fruit-driven and have an excellent reputation with consumers and critics alike.  The cool climate here is well suited to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.

Laurelwood District AVA

Established on 2 June 2020, the Laurelwood District AVA is located west of the city of Portland and lies entirely within the northern end of Willamette Valley AVA with the Chehalem Mountains AVA covering its northern slopes including the towns of Cornelius, Scholls and Sherwood in Washington County.

The Laurelwood District AVA includes the highest elevation in the Willamette Valley, at 1,633 feet, and receives between 37-60" of rain each year on average.  As waterlogged rain clouds travel inland from the Pacific Ocean, they first hit the Coast Range Mountains and then the Chehalem Mountains, both forcing the release of much of their precipitation. Not only does this appellation get more rain than any of its neighboring AVAs, it might just be the wettest designated wine-growing region in the state.

The distinguishing feature of the Laurelwood District AVA is the predominance of the Laurelwood soil that predominates in the area, found on the north- and east-facing slope of the Chehalem Mountains.  The district contains the highest concentration of the namesake soil in Oregon. 

The northern boundary is adjacent to Tualatin Hills AVA, which was established at the same time and noted for the Laurelwood soil consisting of exceptionally fine wind-blown loess deposited over ancient basalt.  Silt-sized sediment was formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust and produced by the grinding down of basaltic and other volcanic rocks by glaciers during the last Ice Age.  The soil, with depths of 4' to 0" depending upon elevation, sits atop a fractured basalt subsoil that provides quick drainage and produces deeply rooted vines.  The iron-rich Missoula Flood loess also contributes a flavor of the wines.

The Laurelwood District AVA coverage is approximately 33,600 acres with approximately 975 acres planted to vineyard. The most common grape varietals found growing in the Laurelwood District AVA are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.

Lower Long Tom AVA

Established on 9 November 2021, the Lower Long Tom AVA is located in Oregon's southern Willamette Valley in Lane and Benton Counties, near the towns of Junction City and Monroe.   It lies entirely within the Willamette Valley AVA.  The Lower Long Tom AVA sits within the west side of the Lower Long Tom Watershed, between Corvallis and Eugene.

The AVA is approximately 25,000 acres and planted with approximately 575 acres.  The AVA is located in the southwestern Willamette Valley, among Oregon's coastal foothills. The Long Tom River flows along the eastern boundary of the area. The area is also warmer than surrounding regions, protected from cool marine air by a particularly high section of the Central Oregon Coast Range.

To the west, the region is flanked by significantly higher elevations of the Coast Range which serve to form a weather shield.  The rain shadow of the peaks to the west reduces precipitation and, combined with the prevailing winds, creates a macroclimate with less disease pressure during the growing season and consistent fruit maturity, even in more difficult vintages.

The distinguishing feature of the Lower Long Tom AVA is the predominance of nutrient-poor, fast-draining Bellpine soil.  Vineyards are located on stream-cut ridge lines running east to west, with Bellpine as the predominant soil type.  These clay-loams are formed from up-lifted ancient marine sediments, primarily sandstone.  With Bellpine topsoils usually shallow, grapevine roots have to penetrate the sandstone below to find water and nutrients, which forces vines to push deep in pursuit of food and water.  The harder-working vines are believed to produce lighter leaf canopies and smaller grapes with more concentrated flavors and more powerful tannins.

The region is primarily known for its Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.  While Pinot Noir is the predominant grape of the region, with wines leaning toward blue and black fruits and plush tannins for graceful aging, around a dozen white grape varieties are grown as well, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc.

McMinnville AVA

Established on 17 January 2005, the McMinnville AVA is located in Yamhill County, Oregon.  Entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, and roughly running from McMinnville to Sheridan, the McMinnville AVA is in the Coast Range Foothills.  The vineyards and wineries of the McMinnville AVA lie west of the town of McMinnville, Oregon amongst the rolling coast range foothills.

Primarily east and south facing slopes sit in a protected weather shadow of the Coast Range Mountains with rainfall lower than sites 12 to 20 miles to the east.  Chilling winds are avoided in the Spring and Fall as the foothills provide continuous protection from many unstable weather patterns during those times of the year.  Vineyards placed on more southerly sites take advantage of the drying winds from the Van Duzer corridor, which helps control mold and mildew on the grapes during humid summer days.  During harvest, all of these conditions allow winegrowers to let their grapes hang on the vine, allowing flavors to intensify, gaining even more layers of subtlety in the finished wines.

McMinnville is one of few AVAs that is designated in part based on elevation, with vineyards required to be between 200 feet and 1,000 feet above sea level, where the soil and rock formations differ from surrounding areas.  Primarily uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silt, the top soil is shallow and relatively infertile.

The story of the soils began roughly 38-55 million years ago when the Cascade Mountain lava flows and tectonic plate movements created the Coast Range Mountains.  Plate movements exposed ancient and weathered soils in the foothill regions where the AVA is located.  The lava flows created ‘basal lava fingers’, noticeable amongst marine soils in the AVA vineyards.  The soils are primarily uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with a base of uplifting basalt.  Harder rock and compressed sediments of basalt pebbles and stone are found under an average 20-40 inch soil depth, giving the McMinnville AVA a unique soil complexity on which to grow our grapes.

The McMinnville AVA currently has over 1600 acres of wine grapes planted and continues to grow in size.  Most important are the flavor profiles of the wines created by this unique growing region.  Pinot Noirs exhibit concentrated flavors of blackberry, currant and cherry, rounded out by spice and earthy tones.  A strong backbone of fruit tannins and acidity add age-ability to these elegant red wines.  White wines of the McMinnville AVA such as Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling are also celebrated for their brightness, texture and fruit forwardness.

Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA

Established on 2 June 2022, the Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA is located just over 20 minutes from Oregon’s capital city of Salem.  Mount Pisgah is only six miles from the Willamette River.  The mountain is defined by elevation around the peak. Its lowest point is 260 feet and the top is 835 feet above sea level.

The microclimate is characterized by the warmth of the nearby Willamette River, the mild influence of the Van Duzer winds, and the rain shadow of Laurel Mountain to the west.  It is a generally warm site compared to sites of higher elevation or sites farther from the river.  Compared to the main weather stations in Salem and McMinnville, however, the climate is warmer in the winter and slightly cooler in the summer.

The mountain was formed 65 million years ago as a sea floor volcano and has since been covered by marine sediment and pushed up out of the ocean’s floor.  This unique geology allows the grapes to develop a deep complexity in their shallow soils.  The planted soils are mostly Willakenzie, Bellpine, and Jory, with some Nekia. The parent material is Siletz Rock, the oldest rock formation in the Willamette Valley.

The unique soils and lack of strong winds define the quality of the grapes.  Shallow soils promote berry development, the water holding capacity of the clay enables little or no irrigation, and lack of wind reduces transpiration, assisting the systematic health of the vine.  The Siletz soil series has proven to be particularly well-suited to growing exceptional quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, among other varieties.

Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA is the Willamette Valley AVA’s second smallest AVA but one of its most densely planted.   The total area of the AVA is 5,530 acres, and the are planted to vineyards is 684 acres.  Most common grape varietals found here are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Tempranillo.

Ribbon Ridge AVA

Established on 31 May 2005, the Ribbon Ridge AVA is a small AVA of the Chehalem Mountains AVA in Oregon's Willamette Valley.  The ridge is a free-floating hill on the southern side of the Chehalem Mountains, bordered by the Ayres and Dopp creeks in the north and west, and the larger Chehalem Creek in the west (where the ridge rises suddenly and dramatically).

The Dundee Hills AVA lies a few miles to the south, the Yamhill-Carlton AVA is immediately to the west, and Portland is just 20 miles away.  The highest point on Ribbon Ridge is 680 feet above sea level, and the AVA covers all the land above the 240-foot contour line.

Ribbon Ridge AVA is smaller than the surrounding landscapes and so enjoys shelter from the prevailing weather systems, leading it to be slightly warmer and drier than other AVAs in the northern Willamette. The Coast Range to the west shields the ridge from the worst effects of the Pacific Ocean, while the Chehalem Mountains provide shelter from the seasonal extremes of temperature from the Columbia Valley in the north.

As a result, Ribbon Ridge's climate is steady and consistent, with few temperature spikes and low to moderate annual rainfall.  Most of the prime vineyard sites on Ribbon Ridge are south-facing to take advantage of the prevailing sunlight during the growing season. These warm, sunny days are followed by much cooler nights, extending the growing season and ensuring that vital acidity is not lost during the ripening process.

The soils are Ribbon Ridge AVA's defining feature and are significantly different from those of the surrounding AVAs. While the northern Willamette Valley is famous for its volcanic Jory soils (seen in Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills), Ribbon Ridge AVA has marine sedimentary soils, having once lain at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

These ancient, weathered soils are finer and deeper than those of the surrounding landscape, causing vine stress which in turn lessens vigor and yield and leads to high-quality grapes. Below the 240ft contour line that forms the boundary of the AVA, the alluvial soils are richer and more fertile – not ideal for viticulture.

Pinot Noir grapes thrive in the terroir and are capable of producing wines with elegant structure and intense, concentrated flavors.  The Pinot Noir wines in particular of Ribbon Ridge are poised and elegant, with a good balance of acidity and richness. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are the AVA's other notable varieties.

Tualatin Hills AVA

Established on 2 June 2020, the Tualatin Hills AVA is located due west of Portland and just east from the Oregon Coast Range in the upland hills of the Tualatin River watershed.  It lies entirely within the northern most location of the Willamette Valley AVA in and around towns like Gaston, Forest Grove, Sherwood and Cornelius.  Tualatin Hills AVA is partially adjacent at its southern end to Laurelwood District AVA.

This 15-mile slice is tucked into the northwesternmost corner of the Willamette Valley and is home to the very first commercial vineyard in Oregon, with a long agricultural history.  Recognized by its distinctive soil and climate, the AVA is named for and principally defined by the watershed of the Tualatin River.

The Tualatin Hills AVA encompasses elevations between 200 and 1,000 feet.  To the south and southeast are the Chehalem Mountains with elevations of over 1,000 feet and considered to be a separate, distinct landform from the uplands within Tualatin Hills.  The Tualatin Hills AVA stretches over approximately 144,000 acres and contains approximately 860.5 acres that are planted to vineyards. 

The Willamette Valley is full of microclimates, varying aspects and more that have a profound impact on the wines grown there.  Due to the elevation range, the area benefits from the rain shadow of the Coast Range with slightly lower rainfall, cooler temperatures in springtime and more temperate and dryer conditions during the critical fall harvest period.

The Tualatin Hills AVA is noted for the Laurelwood soils consisting of exceptionally fine loess deposited over ancient basalt.  The silt-sized sediment was formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust produced by the grinding down of basaltic and other volcanic rocks by glaciers during the last ice age.  Tualatin Hills AVA also contains Kinton and Cornelius soils mixed with the Laurelwood soil.

Tualatin Valley AVA is known for its exquisite wines, especially Pinot Noir. While the Pinot Noir put the valley—and the state—on the wine map, the sheer diversity of wine varietals keeps wine lovers coming.  Other key grape varietals found within this AVA are Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Van Duzer Corridor AVA

Established on 13 December 2018, the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, an AVA within the Willamette Valley AVA located within Polk County.  The Van Duzer Corridor AVA spans a nearly 60,000-acre triangular swath of land, flanked by the Eola-Amity Hills AVA on the east side and the McMinnville AVA to the north.  The Van Duzer Corridor AVA lies entirely within the established Willamette Valley AVA and covers approximately 59,871 acres. commercially-producing vineyards covering a total of approximately 1,000 acres. 

The topography of the Van Duzer Corridor AVA is characterized by low elevations and gently rolling hills.  The low elevations allow cool breezes to flow relatively unimpeded from the Pacific Ocean, through the Oregon Coast Range, forming a wind corridor gap known as the Van Duzer corridor.  The western end of the Van Duzer Corridor wind gap is narrow and squeezed by high elevations to the north and south, leaving little room for viticulture.  However, the eastern end of the Van Duzer Corridor wind gap, where the Van Duzer Corridor AVA is located, features the same low elevations and rolling hills as the western portion, with the distinction of having a wider area suitable for vineyards. Within the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, the elevation does not impede the eastward-flowing marine air, allowing higher wind speeds to flow through. In contrast, the surrounding regions all have higher elevations.

Climate is characterized by consistent high wind speeds and low cumulative growing degree-day (GDD) accumulations. The consistently high winds in the AVA contribute to thicker grape skins, and raise the levels of phenolic compounds in the fruit. In contrast, the wind speeds to the north and south southeast of the AVA are slower. The Van Duzer Corridor has lower GDD accumulations than surrounding regions to the north and southeast, indicating that its temperatures are generally cooler.  The cooler temperatures ripen the fruit slowly, creating a longer hang time than for the same grape varietal grown in a region with higher GDD accumulations. The longer hang time contributes to a reduced acidity level.

Soils are primarily uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with alluvial overlay, as well as some uplifted basalt. The soils are typically shallow, well-drained, and have a bedrock of siltstone.  The high silt and clay levels in the soils balance the overall pH level of the soil by buffering against a sudden increase or decrease in soil pH.  The buffering effect is beneficial to vineyards because it boosts the ability of the soils to maintain a stable pH level.  In contrast, the soils immediately outside the northern and western boundaries contain soils from different soil series. Farther north and west, the soils contain higher concentrations of basalt and other volcanic materials. 

The Van Duzer Corridor AVA is a unique grape-growing region within the Willamette Valley AVA.  The wind stimulus contributes to finished wine quality by generating thicker skins, deeper color and a more generous tannin structure.  The predominant grape varietals grown here are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Syrah.

Willamette Valley AVA

Established on 20 January 1983, the Willamette Valley AVA lies in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  The AVA is the wine growing region which encompasses the drainage basin of the Willamette River.  It stretches from the Columbia River in the north to just south of Eugene in the south, where the Willamette Valley ends; and from the Oregon Coast Range in the west to the Cascade Mountains in the east. 

At 5,360 square miles, or 3,438,000 acres, it is the largest AVA in the state.  Since establishment, ten smaller AVAs have been created entirely within the Willamette Valley AVA, with nine of them in the northern Willamette Valley and the Lower Long Tom AVA in the south.  These AVAs have minimum elevations around 200 feet; some also have a maximum of 1000 feet.

The climate of Willamette Valley AVA is mild year-round, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers; extreme temperatures are uncommon as heat above 90 °F only occurs 5 to 15 days per year, and the temperature drops below 0 °F once every 25 years.  Most rainfall occurs outside the growing season in the late autumn, winter, and early spring, when temperatures are the coldest.  The valley gets relatively little snow (5 inches to 10 inches) per year. The hardiness zone is mostly 8b.

The Willamette Valley AVA includes rich alluvial soils on the valley floor, that are great for agriculture but inappropriate for high quality grape growing, and a selection of volcanic, loess and sedimentary soils on hillsides of varying microclimates.

Although this distinction is not officially recognized, many wine connoisseurs further divide the Willamette Valley into northern and southern regions, the dividing line being the approximate latitude of Salem (approximately 45° north latitude).

Not all portions of the Willamette Valley are suitable for vineyards, however, and the largest concentration of wineries is found west of the Willamette River, on the leeward slopes of the Coast Range, or among the numerous river and stream valleys created by Willamette River tributaries. By far, the largest concentration of wineries is in Yamhill County.

The Willamette Valley AVA is recognized worldwide for its Pinot Noir.  The total planted area is 27,202 acres.  The most common grape varietals in the Willamette Valley AVA are Pinot Noir (70%), Pinot Gris (16%), Chardonnay (7.5%)

Yamhill-Carlton AVA

Established on 8 December 2004, the Yamhill-Carlton AVA is located in both Washington County and Yamhill County, Oregon. It is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, and surrounds the towns of Carlton and Yamhill.

The Yamhill-Carlton AVA is contained within the Willamette Valley AVA and is located 35 miles southwest of Portland and 40 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The region is bordered by the Coast Range to the west, the Chehalem Mountains to the north, and the Dundee Hills to the east.

The mountain ridges surrounding the AVA form a horseshoe shape, and most of the vineyards are located on south-facing slopes.  The Yamhill-Carlton AVA includes only land between 200 feet and 1,000 feet above sea level where marine sediments are some of the oldest soils in the Willamette Valley AVA and create unique conditions for viticulture.

The region is in the rain shadow of the 3,500 feet Oregon Coast Range, a short distance to the west.  These barriers provide protective cover from extreme weather resulting in warmer temperatures and the earliest harvest dates in the Willamette Valley.  The warmer microclimate produces ripe, texturally driven wine with an abundance of spice and floral qualities layered onto dark fruit flavors.

The predominant soils of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA are marine sedimentary (Willakenzie series).  Yamhill-Carlton AVA has some of the oldest soil and vine material in the Willamette Valley.  It is comprised of coarse grained ancient marine sediments that drain quickly, making it ideal for viticulture.  These soils drain quickly, establishing a natural deficit-irrigation effect. 

The Yamhill-Carlton AVA is approximately 58,100 acres in size and consists of more than 2,600 acres of vineyard. The predominant grape varietals grown here are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.