Willamette Valley

There is a reason that Pinot Noir from Oregon’s North Willamette Valley captures the hearts and palates of wine lovers worldwide. The fruit respects the elegant demands of stellar pinot noir, while at the same time responds to vinification with tiers of personality. There is a rich, earthy component that consistently claims its place. At Fiddlehead, we’re often asked “Why an Oregon Pinot when you have Santa Rita Hills?” Clearly, because we love the difference! Kathy has long-standing relationships with the growers of some of the best vineyards in the state and can obtain fruit that others only dream of!

We focus our Willamette Valley program on a few select vineyards in the Northern part of the appellation. In the Eola Hills, we work with the Elton, Seven Springs and Lewman Vineyards, all of which have volcanic rock under a shallow layer of clay-loam based soils. Elton is on the eastern side of this range and was planted back in 1983, with Pommard clones. It’s at an elevation of 250 feet with a southeastern exposure. Owners Dick and Betty O’Brien are dedicated growers that are a pleasure to work with. Seven Springs Vineyard is located in this same area, but at an elevation of about 500 feet. Like Elton, it enjoys the same exposure, the same Jory soil series, and also is planted to Pommard. Lewman is a relatively new, organically-farmed vineyard. It was first planted in 1992 with Pommard and Dijon clone 115 on a tight spacing of 2343 vines per acre. The soils at Lewman are Nekia with areas of Rittner – thin and devigorating soils that result in grapes with intense and concentrated flavors. These vineyards tend to bring the mid-palate flesh to our final blend.

Near McMinnville, nestled in the foothills of the coastal range are Momtazi and Yamhill Valley Vineyards. The soils here are quite varied, but predominantly sedimentary clays. These vineyards often yield darkly colored wines with significant tannins which contribute to the backbone and muscle of our Oldsville Reserve cuvee.

Our most recent addition, the Alloro Vineyard is located on the southwest slope of the Chehalem Mountains, a highly-respected viticultural area in the Willamette Valley. The Vineyard is planted to Pommard and Dijon clones (114 and 777 for Fiddlehead), on low-vigor rootstocks that are matched to the Laurelwood soil type. (Alloro is Italian for Laurel – again Pinot Noir being all about place!). The Chehalem Mountains run north-to-northwest and like our other vineyards, offer a well protected, cool climate with unique soil and clonal matches. Owner David Nemarnik is a most passionate grower who greatly respects our need for quality in the vineyard.

Prior to the establishment of her own winery in Lompoc, for many years Kathy crafted her Oregon Pinot Noirs at Yamhill Valley Vineyards’ winery. She continues to honor those special times by naming our Fiddlehead Willamette Valley cuvee’ after the sense of place – Oldsville Road. Hence, our very delicious and completely Oregonian wine – Oldsville Reserve. And in particular years when a single vineyard “speaks” to us, we may bottle small amounts of designated wines from one of these stellar northwest vineyards.