McMinnville is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) on the edge of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This AVA – the most westerly in the Willamette Valley – is one of Oregon's key Pinot Noir-producing areas. The red wines made here are rich and structured, with complex flavors of dark fruit and spice.
McMinnville became an AVA in 2005, although the first vineyards were planted here in the 1970s as growers who were disillusioned with California Pinot Noir began to move north. The AVA covers the foothills of the Coast Range for 20 miles (32km) south-west of the town of McMinnville, with vineyards sitting between 200ft and 1000ft (60-300m) above sea level on a range of south- and east-facing slopes. This altitude is stipulated in the conditions of the AVA, just as in Mendocino Ridge in California and the Dundee Hills just north of McMinnville.
The most distinguishing feature of the terroir in McMinnville is the soil, which is more marine-influenced than much of the rest of the Willamette Valley. The Coast Range once lay at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, and was forced up millions of years ago by tectonic shift. These ancient marine soils are complemented by strands of basalt, the result of ancient lava flows through the area. Silt and clay loam sit atop a bed of basaltic pebbles and hard rock throughout the McMinnville AVA, providing a stressful environment for the vines, which have to work harder to survive. These soils lessen vigor and yields, promoting the growth of small, thick-skinned berries that make complex, tannic wines.
McMinnville's westerly position in the foothills (and rain shadow) of the Coast Range means that the vineyards are sheltered from the heavy weather systems from the Pacific Ocean, 30 miles (50km) away. The AVA has lower rainfall than the eastern parts of the Willamette Valley, and the extended hang time that this brings during the growing season allows for the development of acidity along with flavor. South-facing vineyards also benefit from drying Pacific winds that are funneled into the area via the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Coast Range. This is particularly useful during the humid summers, when the winds help to dry out the canopy, reducing the risk of rot or mildew.
While Pinot Noir makes up the majority of plantings in McMinnville, some fresh, textured white wines are produced in the region as well, mostly from Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.
