Ribbon Ridge

Location: Ribbon Ridge is a sub-appellation of the Willamette Valley AVA that sits 22 miles southwest of Portland, 4 miles northwest of Dundee and 40 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Ribbon Ridge is contained within the larger Chehalem Mountains AVA - which is contained with the Willamette Valley AVA.

Wine history: In 1980, Harry Peterson-Nedry planted the first wine grapes on Ribbon Ridge at his Ridgecrest Vineyards. Two years later, the first commercial vineyard was established with the planting of 54 acres of Pinot noir and Chardonnay. It was Yamhill Valley Vineyards who first used these grapes to make wine in 1985. Other vineyards were soon planted in this relatively small ridge. The appellation became official in 2005.

Climate: Protected by geographical features to the north, south and west, Ribbon Ridge's grape-growing hillsides are slightly warmer and drier when compared to the adjacent valley floors. Ribbon Ridge's moderate climate is well suited for early grape growth in the spring, consistent and even ripening over the summer and a long, full maturing season in the fall.

Soils: The Ribbon Ridge region contains primarily sedimentary soils that are younger, finer and more uniform than the alluvial sedimentary and volcanic soils of neighboring regions. These moderately deep, well-drained silty-clay loam soils are part of the Willakenzie soil series and are of low fertility and ideal for growing high-quality wine grapes.

Topography: Geographically, Ribbon Ridge is a 3.5-mile long by 1.75-mile wide ridge that extends from the Chehalem Mountains. The ridge rises 683 feet from the Chehalem Valley floor, giving it an island-like appearance.

Predominant varieties

• Pinot noir
• Pinot gris
• Chardonnay

While you're here...

Ribbon Ridge sits entirely within the Chehalem Mountains appellation located just 30 minutes southwest of Portland, Oregon's largest city. Even closer to the North Willamette Valley's wine producing pockets, including Ribbon Ridge, are smaller towns such as Forest Grove, Newberg, Dundee and McMinnville that offer a great variety of charming inns and bed and breakfasts, and an impressive collection of intimate, chef-owned restaurants serving wine-friendly Pacific Northwest cuisine.  Visitors can take a hot air balloon ride to get a bird's eye view of this spectacular wine country area and its green, rolling hills, rivers, and splashes of forestlands, or enjoy the scenic beauty from the variety of golf courses within driving distance.

Below are some links to help you plan your trip to Ribbon Ridge:

Travel Oregon - Willamette Valley Page

There's more to the Willamette Valley than award-winning, world-renowned wine. Sure, there are more than 200 vineyards producing some of the best Pinot noir, Pinot gris and Riesling anywhere, but Oregon grows more than just grapes.