Our Vineyard
Perfectly located in the heart of the Okanagan valley.The Vineyard
The Ribbon Ridge Vineyard site is located on the shoulder of Ribbon Ridge in Yamhill County in close proximity to many fine vineyards. The predominate soil type of the Ribbon Ridge AVA has long been considered Willakenzie soil with low fertility and ideal for growing high quality wine grapes. A survey of soil types in the Ribbon Ridge Vineyard has indicted a variety of clay loam soil types in the 9 acre vineyard. The entire property encompasses 41 acres with approximately 12 acres cleared and 29 in timber.
In the spring of 2001, nine acres of grapes were planted on ten acres. These plantings produced a limited commercial harvest in 2003 and produced a full harvest of 27 tomes of grapes in 2006—enough to produce 1600 cases of wine.
Ribbon Ridge Vineyard sells the majority of their grapes to fine wine producers such as Andrew Rich Wines, Scott Paul Wines and Willamette Valley Vineyards.
The balance of the fruit is used in our estate and reserve Pinot Noir. The majority of our fruit comes from a section of the vineyard we call the Wedding Block. This section is at the highest point in the vineyard and is an area with the thinnest topsoil. It tends to produce slightly more intense fruit flavors that add more character and depth to the wines. Plus it has a special significance to Robin and Dewey—this is where they were married in 1978.
Vineyard Development Strategy
To maximize the value of grapes grown on the vineyard site, w employed techniques and strategies that have yielded the best results to date in Oregon and other premium wine grape regions.
Specific techniques and strategies used at Ribbon Ridge Vineyard include:
Rootstock Phylloxera resistant 3309C
Clones Pommard 05 and Dijon 777 from Duarte Nursery
Spacing 6 feet by 5 feet; high density planting of 1452 plants per acre
Trellis Vertical, with Guyot training, cane pruning
Irrigation Above ground drip irrigation, for establishment only
Yield to target 2-3 tons per acre
Clones and Rootstock
The 3309C rootstock accounts for 45% of the rootstock used in Oregon. It is resistant to diseases commonly found in Oregon, has a good capacity for developing a strong, deep root structure and is a low-vigor rootstock. It addition, its nutrient uptake profile matches well with Willakenzie soil and Pinot Noir requirements.
The Pommard clone of Pinot Noir was one of the first clones grown in Oregon. Its characteristics include aromas of blue/black fruits, marionberries, spice, earth and at times game or meat, and typically has good color, great structure, with both width and length
The Dijon 777 yields complex and well-defined aromas of wild strawberries, cassis, red currants, cinnamon, minerals and black raspberries. Wines produced from Dijon777 are typically deep, rich, and powerful in the mouth with a broad mid-palate that is focused by soft ripe tannins.
The Dijon 777 ripens earlier than the Pommard so was planted in sections of the vineyard that have a slight eastern slope while the Pommard was planted on slopes to the south and west to ensure ripening at the same time. 53% of the vineyard is planted in Pommard and 47% planted in Dijon 777.
The combination of these two clones delivers a deep and elegant Pinot Noir with spicy fruit, soft tannins and great structure.