NEWBERG, OR -- Oregon wineries are now able to further
define the origin of their wines with the official
recognition of the new Chehalem Mountains American
Viticultural Area
(AVA) by the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
Wines made from grapes grown within the geographical
boundaries of the Chehalem Mountains AVA may now carry that
designation on their label.
The drive for a Chehalem (pronounced "Sha-HAY-lum")
Mountains AVA was led by Oregon wine industry veteran David
Adelsheim. "Until now, we have only been able to list the
Willamette Valley as our origin, but the sprawling Valley
has hugely diverse growing conditions, resulting in
significantly different wines," said
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Adelsheim. "We are pleased that we can now indicate the
grape origins on our labels. It's an important step in
educating consumers on our exceptional region and the
characteristics suggested in a wine from the Chehalem
Mountains."
Located approximately 19 miles southwest of Portland, the
new AVA is home to 31 wineries and 1,600 acres planted to
wine grapes. The region spans portions of Clackamas, Yamhill
and Washington counties, and stretches 20 miles from the
outskirts of Wilsonville in the southeast, past Sherwood and
Newberg almost to Forest Grove in the northwest.
The Chehalem Mountains are a single uplifted landmass
with spurs, mountains and ridges such as Ribbon Ridge,
Parrott Mountain and Bald Peak, which, at 1663 feet above
sea level, is the highest point within the Willamette
Valley.
Pinot noir is the predominant grape variety in the
Chehalem Mountains. Pinot gris and Chardonnay are also
widely grown and, to a lesser extent, Pinot blanc and
Riesling.
The AVA approval is the final result of a collaborative
process started in 2001, when north Willamette Valley
winegrowers met to define six new AVAs in the most densely
planted of Oregon's wine growing areas. The TTB approved AVA
petitions for nearby Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton District,
McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge and Eola-Amity Hills as early as
2004.
