Yamhill-Carlton
Location: Yamhill-Carlton is a
sub-appellation of the Willamette Valley AVA. Located 35 miles
southwest of Portland and 40 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, the
area includes the towns of Carlton and Yamhill.
Wine history: Once primarily known for
tree-fruit orchards, nurseries, livestock, wheat fields and
logging, the area now known as Yamhill-Carlton has a relatively
recent wine history. In 1974, pioneers Pat and Joe Campbell started
Elk Cove Vineyards, which produced the first commercial wine in the
Yamhill-Carlton area at a time when other areas of the North
Willamette Valley were just starting to be planted. Other pioneers
quickly followed suit and today it is known as one of the country's
finest producers of cool-climate varietals. Yamhill-Carlton was
officially established in 2005.
Climate: Yamhill-Carlton is protected by
high elevation areas to the west (Coast Range), north (Chehalem
Mountains) and east (Dundee Hills), which results in less rain than
surrounding areas and moderate growing conditions perfectly suited
for cool-climate grapes, including the area's signature variety,
Pinot noir.
Soils: Yamhill-Carlton is comprised of
coarse-grained, ancient marine sedimentary soils, over sandstone
and siltstone that all drain quickly, making them ideal for
viticulture. Grapes grown in such soil often result in wines lower
in acid than those made from grapes grown in basaltic or wind-blown
soils.
Topography: Yamhill-Carlton vineyards grow
on sites with elevations between 200 and 1,000 feet, avoiding low
valley frost and high elevation temperatures unsuitable for
effective ripening. Geographically, this area is protected by the
Coast Range to the west, the Chehalem Mountains to the north and
the Dundee Hills to the east.
Predominant varieties
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Gris
- Chardonnay
While you're here...
The Yamhill-Carlton appellation sits at the north end of the
Willamette Valley, about an hour's drive from Portland, Oregon's
largest city. Within this region's scenic vineyards, farms, green
hills and forest areas are the towns of Carlton and Yamhill, as
well as other charming small communities, including McMinnville,
Forest Grove, Dundee and Newberg 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.