Dundee Hills is an AVA in Oregon's Willamette Valley, some 25 miles (40km) south-west of Portland. Willamette Valley's first Pinot Noir vines were planted here in the mid-1960s by growers who were determined to show that Oregon's terroir was better suited to the variety than California. The hard work and perseverance of those pioneers paid off when, in 1979, a Dundee Hills Pinot Noir beat out some excellent wines from Burgundy to win second place at the Gault-Millau French Wine Olympiads.
The hills lie in the north-west of the Willamette Valley, bordered by Ribbon Ridge and Chehalem Mountains in the north and Yamhill-Carlton District AVA in the west. The Willamette River wends its way past the small town of Dundee on the eastern edge of the hills. Vineyards are planted on the south-east-facing slopes of the hills, at elevations up to 1000ft (300m) above sea level.
The Dundee Hills are the result of lava flows and tectonic activity. Their elevation means they were missed by the Missoula floods from Montana that spread deposits of silt throughout the lower land in the Willamette Valley. As a result, the red, volcanic soils in the AVA – known here as Jory soil – differentiate it from the lower-lying ground. These soils are deep, free-draining and rich in iron – all excellent conditions for premium viticulture. A lack of water in the soil will cause the vines to grow deep root systems in search of hydration, and the stress that this lack of water causes will force them to focus on berry production rather than leafy vegetation growth. The resultant wines have concentrated flavors and good structure.
The Dundee Hills AVA is located further inland than other Willamette Valley sub-regions, meaning it escapes much of the rain and wind tearing in from the Pacific Ocean. The area lies in the rain shadow of the Coast Mountains, and the Chehalem Mountains in the north protect it from the ocean winds that are funneled through the Columbia Gorge. Some ocean influences do make their way into the Dundee Hills in the form of sea breezes, which help to cool the vineyards after warm sunshine during the day. AVA rules dictate that local vineyards must be planted at more than 200ft (70m) above sea level, resulting in warmer nights and less frost and fog than down on the valley floor.
Dundee Hills is one of the most important AVAs in the Willamette Valley and is home to some of Oregon's most famous producers, including Domaine Drouhin, The Eyrie Vineyards and Sokol Blosser. Pinot Noir is, of course, the leading grape variety here, producing rich, complex wines with bright-red fruits, tantalizing spice, interesting minerality and silky tannins. Pinot Gris and Chardonnay also feature in the Dundee Hills wine portfolio.
