Dundee Hills AVA

The Dundee Hills AVA occupies a single, continuous north-south oriented landmass on the western side of the Willamette River valley, rising from the 200-foot contour line to a high point of 1,067 feet. Located 28 miles southwest of Portland and 40 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the region benefits from the protection of the Coast Range to the west and the Chehalem Mountains to the northeast. These natural barriers moderate climatic extremes, and the Dundee Hills actually receive slightly less cooling influence from the Pacific and Columbia Gorge than most Willamette Valley sub-AVAs, resulting in marginally warmer growing seasons. Vineyards are typically planted on southeast-to-southwest facing slopes that maximize sunlight while preserving the long, even ripening window that Pinot Noir demands.

• Elevation spans 200 to 1,067 feet above sea level, creating multiple mesoclimates across a compact growing area
• Coast Range to the west and Chehalem Mountains to the northeast provide natural shelter from extreme climatic variation
• Annual rainfall averages 30 to 45 inches, concentrated in winter and spring, leaving relatively dry harvest windows in most years
• Cool mornings with misty conditions give way to mild afternoons and crisp evenings, producing significant diurnal temperature variation that retains acidity in grapes

The defining characteristic of Dundee Hills terroir is its iconic Jory soil, a deep red volcanic earth formed from Columbia River Basalts more than 14 million years ago. Designated Oregon's official state soil, Jory consists of silt, clay, and loam layers that typically reach depths of 4 to 6 feet, offering both excellent drainage and the capacity to retain moisture during dry summers, enabling dry farming across much of the AVA. The soil is rich in iron, which gives the hillsides their distinctive rusty hue, and its relative infertility forces vines to develop deep root systems in pursuit of nutrients and water. Secondary Nekia soils appear in rockier areas and are shallower and even more free-draining. A key geological detail is that the Missoula Floods, which submerged much of the Willamette Valley some 15,000 years ago, left the Dundee Hills untouched above the flood line, preserving the volcanic soil profile intact.

• Jory soils are officially recognized as Oregon's state soil, named for Jory Hill in Marion County, and are found almost exclusively in the Dundee Hills
• Columbia River Basalt flows dating back more than 14 million years created the iron-rich volcanic parent material underlying the entire AVA
• Jory soil reaches 4 to 6 feet in depth, providing both drainage and water retention, making dry farming viable throughout the region
• Missoula Flood deposits stop below roughly 200 to 330 feet elevation, meaning hillside Jory soils remain purely volcanic rather than sedimentary

Pinot Noir accounts for approximately 69.5% of vineyard plantings in the Dundee Hills and defines the region's international reputation. The Dundee Hills style tends toward bright red fruit, earthy and truffle-like complexity, silky tannins, and vibrant acidity, distinguished by the spice notes that winemakers consistently attribute to the volcanic Jory soils. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are the leading white varieties, with Chardonnay gaining increasing recognition for restrained, mineral-driven expressions. Pinot Blanc is also grown. The region's slightly warmer microclimate relative to other Willamette Valley sub-AVAs gives producers reliable ripeness while the cool nights and long hang time preserve freshness and structure. Single-vineyard bottlings are increasingly common, reflecting a Burgundian philosophy of expressing individual sites.

• Pinot Noir is the dominant variety at approximately 69.5% of total plantings, producing wines noted for red fruit, earth, baking spice, and silky texture
• Chardonnay expressions are mineral-driven and restrained, drawing comparisons to white Burgundy in structure and aging capability
• Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc round out the white variety portfolio, with the region's slightly warmer conditions supporting full physiological ripeness
• Single-vineyard and block-selection wines are a growing focus, with producers differentiating sites by elevation, aspect, and soil depth

The modern wine history of the Dundee Hills begins in 1966, when David Lett established The Eyrie Vineyards and planted the first Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley after Prohibition. Dick Erath and C. Calvert Knudsen formed Knudsen Erath Winery in 1975, the first commercial winery in the Dundee Hills, while Susan Sokol Blosser and Bill Blosser planted vines in 1971. The pivotal international moment came in 1979, when the 1975 Eyrie Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir placed in the top ten among Pinot Noirs at the Gault-Millau Wine Olympics in Paris, a blind tasting of 330 wines from 33 countries. Robert Drouhin organized a rematch in 1980, in which the Eyrie finished a close second to Drouhin's 1959 Chambolle-Musigny. So impressed was Drouhin that in 1987 he purchased land in the Dundee Hills and established Domaine Drouhin Oregon, with the first vintage produced in 1988. Gary Andrus founded Archery Summit in 1993, bringing a Burgundian vineyard-designate philosophy to the AVA. The region received official AVA status on November 30, 2004.

• David Lett planted the first post-Prohibition Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley in the Dundee Hills in 1966, founding The Eyrie Vineyards
• The 1975 Eyrie Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir placed in the top ten at the 1979 Gault-Millau Wine Olympics in Paris, putting Oregon on the world wine map
• Robert Drouhin purchased land in the Dundee Hills in 1987 and produced Domaine Drouhin Oregon's first vintage in 1988, confirming the region's world-class potential
• Official AVA status granted November 30, 2004, with the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association formed in 2005 to promote the region's distinct identity

The Dundee Hills is home to some of Oregon's most celebrated estates and pioneering wineries. Domaine Drouhin Oregon, established in 1987 and owned by the Drouhin family of Burgundy, operates from a 225-acre estate with fourth-generation winemaker Veronique Drouhin-Boss crafting wines including the flagship Laurene Pinot Noir. Archery Summit, founded in 1993 by Gary Andrus and now owned by Crimson Wine Group, farms six estate vineyards across 120 acres entirely within the Dundee Hills. Sokol Blosser, whose vines date to 1971, is one of Oregon's earliest estates and a multi-generational leader in sustainable viticulture. The Eyrie Vineyards, now led by Jason Lett, carries the legacy of the Oregon wine pioneers and continues to produce benchmark Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association today counts 61 member producers.

• Domaine Drouhin Oregon: established 1987, 225-acre estate in the Dundee Hills, producing Laurene and Dundee Hills Pinot Noir under Veronique Drouhin-Boss
• Archery Summit: founded 1993 by Gary Andrus, now Crimson Wine Group property, farming 120 estate acres across six Dundee Hills vineyards
• Sokol Blosser: vines planted 1971, among Oregon's earliest estates, a pioneer in certified sustainable and organic viticulture
• The Eyrie Vineyards: founded by David Lett in 1966, now led by his son Jason Lett, continuing Oregon's foundational Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris tradition

As a sub-AVA of the Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills wines labeled with the AVA name must source a minimum of 85% of fruit from within the designated boundaries, consistent with federal TTB requirements. Oregon state law additionally requires that wines labeled 'Oregon' contain 100% Oregon-grown fruit, a standard stricter than the federal minimum. The region has become a national leader in sustainable and certified farming: the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association reports that 28 of its 61 members hold LIVE certification, and the AVA contains more B-Corp certified wineries than any other in the world. Certified organic and biodynamic farming methods are also widespread, reflecting the region's founding commitment to working with rather than against its volcanic soils and cool climate.

• Wines labeled 'Dundee Hills' must source at least 85% of fruit from within the AVA boundaries, per TTB federal requirements
• Oregon state law requires 100% Oregon-grown fruit for wines carrying the 'Oregon' designation, stricter than federal minimums
• 28 of 61 DHWA member producers hold LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) sustainable certification
• More B-Corp certified wineries are located in the Dundee Hills than in any other AVA globally, reflecting a deep regional commitment to environmental stewardship