Forty Three years ago in 1979 in Paris, a wine made in a converted chicken barn turned the wine world upside down.**
No Oregon wine list is complete without The Eyrie Vineyards. It’s no overstatement to claim that Eyrie changed the face of the wine industry in Oregon -- even the world. In 1966, against all advice from the winemaking world, David Lett (a.k.a. “Papa Pinot” partly for his pioneering efforts and partly because his silver beard and irascible personal style reminded some of Hemingway) risked it all to plant his young family (and vines) in the Dundee Hills.
A year later, he and his wife, Diana, founded Eyrie Vineyards. Eyrie first started to attract serious attention in 1979, when its Pinot Noir South Block 1975 finished third in an international tasting of hundreds of wines organized by the French food-and-wine magazine Gault-Millau. That in turn caught the eye of Robert Drouhin of Burgundy's Maison Joseph Drouhin, who started visiting Oregon to see what was happening.
In 1979 and again in 1980 they competed in France, proving to the wine world that Oregon pinot could go up against Burgundy, losing first place to Drouhin’s pinot noir by just two tenths of a point. In fact, David and Diana Lett put the Willamette Valley on the map as a world class pinot noir producing region. The Lett’s story of turning their dream of a small organic winery into one that has a huge international standing in excellence is inspiring to say the least.
Lett retained the respect of his colleagues even though his style of winemaking was very different from theirs. Eyrie's Pinots aimed for delicacy and age-ability even when the trend in Oregon was for more ripeness and immediate pleasure.
Come along as we tour this historic Oregon winery, learn about the history of the vineyard, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and their sustainable farming practices as they carry the legacy forward.
Eyrie is the 1st vineyard in Oregon’s Willamette Valley to produce pinot noir wines, chardonnay and in 1970, the 1st to produce pinot gris in America.
And it isn’t just the wine:
He's a winemaking Artist: Most of the watercolors on the walls of their tasting room and on many of the wine labels were painted by winemaker Jason Lett himself.
David died in 2008 leaving the winemaking and legacy to his son Jason.
Small and personal is (much) more impressive: It’s not just their excellent wines that brings us back again and again. It’s the Lett’s personal touch, clear passion for what they do, and genuine kindness.
Tasting fees:
5 Oregon Pinots to try NOW
Eyrie Vineyards
- See more at:
http://www.vinestories.com/video.php?video=118189774
https://www.thrillist.com/drink/portland/best-oregon-wineries-willamette-valley (Eyrie, DD, Evasham Wood, Brooks, Grochau, SB, Teutonic, Division Wine Co., Argyle, Hazelfern, Union Wine Co. & Nicolas-Jay)
A year later, he and his wife, Diana, founded Eyrie Vineyards. Eyrie first started to attract serious attention in 1979, when its Pinot Noir South Block 1975 finished third in an international tasting of hundreds of wines organized by the French food-and-wine magazine Gault-Millau. That in turn caught the eye of Robert Drouhin of Burgundy's Maison Joseph Drouhin, who started visiting Oregon to see what was happening.
In 1979 and again in 1980 they competed in France, proving to the wine world that Oregon pinot could go up against Burgundy, losing first place to Drouhin’s pinot noir by just two tenths of a point. In fact, David and Diana Lett put the Willamette Valley on the map as a world class pinot noir producing region. The Lett’s story of turning their dream of a small organic winery into one that has a huge international standing in excellence is inspiring to say the least.
Lett retained the respect of his colleagues even though his style of winemaking was very different from theirs. Eyrie's Pinots aimed for delicacy and age-ability even when the trend in Oregon was for more ripeness and immediate pleasure.
Come along as we tour this historic Oregon winery, learn about the history of the vineyard, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and their sustainable farming practices as they carry the legacy forward.
Eyrie is the 1st vineyard in Oregon’s Willamette Valley to produce pinot noir wines, chardonnay and in 1970, the 1st to produce pinot gris in America.
And it isn’t just the wine:
He's a winemaking Artist: Most of the watercolors on the walls of their tasting room and on many of the wine labels were painted by winemaker Jason Lett himself.
David died in 2008 leaving the winemaking and legacy to his son Jason.
Small and personal is (much) more impressive: It’s not just their excellent wines that brings us back again and again. It’s the Lett’s personal touch, clear passion for what they do, and genuine kindness.
Tasting fees:
- Exploration Flight, $20 for seven wines including one limited production release and one library vintage;
- Discovery Flight, $10 for four wines.
5 Oregon Pinots to try NOW
Eyrie Vineyards
- See more at:
http://www.vinestories.com/video.php?video=118189774
https://www.thrillist.com/drink/portland/best-oregon-wineries-willamette-valley (Eyrie, DD, Evasham Wood, Brooks, Grochau, SB, Teutonic, Division Wine Co., Argyle, Hazelfern, Union Wine Co. & Nicolas-Jay)
**That wine, a 1975 Eyrie Vineyards South Block Pinot Noir from Oregon placed in the Top 10 at the prestigious Gault-Millau French Wine Olympiades. This was a stunning result, and it opened many folks’ eyes to the possibilities for high quality Pinot Noir from Oregon. Now, with well over 400 wineries in the state, Pinot Noir is the king of Oregon wines. With so many wineries to choose from, we’ve selected some of our favorite Oregon Pinot Noirs that carry forward Oregon’s tradition of great wine.
While grapes have been grown in Oregon since the pioneer days of the Oregon Territory in the 1840’s, it was David Lett, the founder of Eyrie Vineyards, who helped to establish the modern winemaking industry in 1966. Armed with little more than an enology degree from UC Davis and a theory that good quality Pinot Noir could be grown in Oregon, the then-25 year old Lett moved up to Oregon with his wife, a dream and 3,000 cuttings. It was a bold move at the time. Lett literally bet his future on red (wine that is).
EYRIE VINEYARDS
In 1970, Oregon had a grand total of five bonded wineries, a number that grew to 34 by 1980. Eyrie, along with a handful of others, worked to make Oregon Pinot Noir prominent. Situated in a former chicken barn in the small town of McMinnville, Eyrie doesn’t look like your typical winery. Old barrels, some from the earliest days of the winery continue to be used, and fruit still comes from the Red Hills, near Dundee. Fast forward to 2015, and Jason Lett, David’s son, is now the winemaker. While there may be a lot more wineries in Oregon these days, Eyrie Vineyards is still one of the best. The 2011 Estate Pinot Noir is our current favorite with its characteristic barnyard funk and light cherry notes.
While grapes have been grown in Oregon since the pioneer days of the Oregon Territory in the 1840’s, it was David Lett, the founder of Eyrie Vineyards, who helped to establish the modern winemaking industry in 1966. Armed with little more than an enology degree from UC Davis and a theory that good quality Pinot Noir could be grown in Oregon, the then-25 year old Lett moved up to Oregon with his wife, a dream and 3,000 cuttings. It was a bold move at the time. Lett literally bet his future on red (wine that is).
EYRIE VINEYARDS
In 1970, Oregon had a grand total of five bonded wineries, a number that grew to 34 by 1980. Eyrie, along with a handful of others, worked to make Oregon Pinot Noir prominent. Situated in a former chicken barn in the small town of McMinnville, Eyrie doesn’t look like your typical winery. Old barrels, some from the earliest days of the winery continue to be used, and fruit still comes from the Red Hills, near Dundee. Fast forward to 2015, and Jason Lett, David’s son, is now the winemaker. While there may be a lot more wineries in Oregon these days, Eyrie Vineyards is still one of the best. The 2011 Estate Pinot Noir is our current favorite with its characteristic barnyard funk and light cherry notes.
