Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/534849
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m J u l y - A u g 2 015 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 4 9 few, if any, climates in California that were cool enough to grow Pinot Noir, Lett's research of the soils and cool-climate conditions in Europe and the U.S. led him to the Willamette Valley. After planting the original vines on the property leased near Corval- lis, Lett and his wife, Diana, began developing their first vineyard on the hillside overlooking Dundee in 1966. Later that year they estab- lished The Eyrie Vineyards, named for the red–tailed hawks living on the property. After releasing the first com- mercial wine in 1970, Lett entered the 1975 South Block Pinot Noir in the 1979 Paris Wine Olympics. The wine placed third against the top wines of the world. The follow- ing year, the same wine finished second only to the Maison Joseph Drouhin Grand Cru 1959 Cham- bolle-Musigny at a rematch put on by Robert Drouhin in Beaune. "My dad always believed there was something special about the mixture of climate and soils in Ore- gon," said Jason Lett, who took over as head winemaker and vine- yard manager at The Eyrie Vine- yards in 2005, three years before his father (aka "Papa Pinot") died. "It didn't take him long to prove his point." PINOT NOIR 'STARTUPS' Soon after the planting of the first Pinot Noir vines, more winer- ies emerged in the valley. Among the early contributors were Dick Erath and Charles Coury, two UC Davis graduates, who teamed up to start a nursery that sold plant material. Following planting his first vineyard on Chehalem Ridge in the Dundee Hills, Erath began making his own wine under the Erath Vine- yards label in 1972. David Lett christens his first vines in 1965. Photo: The Eyrie Vineyards + This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the planting of the first Pinot Noir cuttings in Oregon's Willamette Valley. + David Lett planted the vines in 1965 and established The Eyrie Vineyards in 1966. + Lett entered his 1975 South Block Pinot Noir in the 1979 Paris Wine Olym- pics, and it placed third against the top wines of the world. + Dijon clones were brought into Oregon in 1984 and 1988. + Today there are more than 11,000 acres of Pinot Noir planted in the Willa- mette Valley, and 440 wineries. AT A GLANCE In Business Since 1959! Largest Manufacturer of Grape Stakes Nationwide We Carry a Full Line of Vineyard Supplies 855.707.JIMS (5467) www.JimsSupply.com *Promo Code Valid 7/1/15 through 8/31/15 only. Not applicable to freight charges or taxes. Discount offer not to exceed $500. Restrictions apply. Cannot be combined with any other coupon or promotion. Sign up for Exclusive Promotions! Mention promo code JSC-VWM to receive $10 off every $100 spent on merchandise.* • Anchors • Bird Ne ing • Tying Materials • Crossarms • End Posts • Fencing • Gripple • Metal Stakes • T-Posts • Grow Tubes • Ocloc • Vine Protection • Wire • And More! Metal trellising components are manufactured at our production plant all year round Top Distributor of Gripple in 2014