Willamette Valley Flight

LaVelle Vineyards Willamette Valley flight of wines is where it all started. Anchored by our Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, LaVelle's Willamette Valley wines are brought together by their Burgundian style, fruit-forward winemaking tradition.

Pinot Noir

As with all LaVelle Pinot Noirs, this wine is made in a very fruit-forward, Burgundian style. Although it is not heavily extracted, nor heavily oaked, it has enough tannic structure to make its presence known without overwhelming the delicate nature of the grape. This wine exhibits black cherry and currant flavors, with hints of vanilla and a slight smokiness on a long, lingering finish.

Pinot Gris

Our 2006 Pinot Gris presents a fruit-forward nose with aromas of pear and melon. This distinctly refreshing wine exhibits rich varietal character, with a finish that hints of tropical fruit. A natural complement to Northwest cuisine, take it along for your summer picnics. It also pairs well with salads, fresh fruit, or seafood and chicken dishes.

Riesling

Riesling wines originated in Germany?s Rhein and Mosel river valleys, where they have been cultivated since the 15th century. The grape produces wines that range from dry to delicate to apricot-scented and honey-sweet. Our estate vineyard has long been noted for the distinctive flavor profile of the Riesling grape grown here. This is a semi-sweet, Kabinett style Riesling with aromas and flavors that hint of peaches and apricots. The sweetness of this wine is beautifully balanced with a crisp, refreshing acidity that lingers on the finish. It is a good partner for summer salads, fruit dishes, or any spicy cuisine.

Dry Riesling

These are usually the last grapes that we harvest because the most ripe Riesling grapes make the best Dry Riesling. A bit of botrytis usually sets in by this point, which can be a great thing for Riesling. We do a whole cluster pressing and the juice is allowed to settle for 24 hours. Tropical and citrus fruits dominate the flavor and aromas of this Riesling. Its acidic backbone is balanced with a hint of honey on the finish.

Dry Rosé of Gamay

Like the Roses of Southern France, our Gamay is made in the traditional crisp dry style. This wine is especially unique in that it carries the Walnut Ridge Vineyard designate. That means all of the grapes used to make this wine came from a single vineyard. The prominent Gamay flavors of raspberry and boysenberry are in fine balance with a bright, bracing acidity.

Gewurztraminer

This is the first Gewurztraminer we've produced in seven years and my first wine as a winemaker. The aptly named "spice-traminer" grape is known for it's aromatic nose and spicyness. The grapes themselves ripen to shades of pink and are very flavorful before we make them into wine. After we press off these grapes they undergo a very slow, cool fermentation period so we can retain all of the aromatics. We make Gewurz in an Alsacian style by leaving in a bit of residual sugar to balance the hefty acid content of the wine. The nose on this wine is immense, conjuring up thoughts of rose petals, spice, honeysuckle, and lychee fruit. Gewurztraminer, like Riesling, is a perfect match for spicy Asian cuisine, but also pairs well with most fruits and Muenster and Roquefort cheeses, simple chicken dishes, and smoked salmon.