Chehalem (Chuh-hay-lum) is a local American Indian word best translated as "gentle land" or "valley of flowers," phrases that capture a long-standing, almost religious reverence for the land.

Chehalem considers itself a vineyard winery, dedicated to reflecting as purely as possible what the vineyard has produced, with minimal processing, and without compromising great fruit.

Located on the outskirts of Newberg in the northern Willamette Valley, the 15,000 case winery is renowned for benchmark Pinot noirs, Pinot gris, Riesling and innovative Chardonnays. Chehalem’s fruit sources are the Corral Creek vineyard adjacent to the winery, Ridgecrest vineyard on Ribbon Ridge, and Stoller vineyard in the southern Dundee Hills.

The winemaking team believes in fully ripe fruit and uses only estate-grown grapes. Harvest dates are determined by taste and balance in the vineyard, based on flavors, physical cues and site history--using numbers from analytical tools as confirmation only.

Harry Peterson-Nedry, Chehalem’s founder, winemaker and managing partner initially applied degrees in Chemistry and English from the  University of North Carolina to a career in high tech manufacturing. His interest in wine began as a hobby and developed into a serious passion when he planted his 37-acre Ridgecrest vineyard in 1980. Ridgecrest was the first vineyard development in Oregon's newly appointed Ribbon Ridge AVA and sparked Harry's desire to change career paths. In 1990, his hands-on approach to winemaking began in earnest when he founded Chehalem, and within five years he had expanded the winery’s vineyard holdings to include partnerships in Corral Creek and Stoller vineyards. Harry’s interest in the wine industry extends far beyond the benchmark wines of Chehalem. He serves on the Oregon Wine Board and WineAmerica, the national trade association for America ’s wineries. He represented Oregon at the recent International Pinot Gris Symposium in Germany and is a sought- after panelist for wine seminars in Oregon and around the country.

Mike Eyres - Mike is our winemaker, along with Harry Peterson-Nedry. As such, Mike is the field general, coordinating logistics, people, winery purchases, and winemaking tasks. He joined Chehalem as an intern for Harvest 2001, impressed Harry with his technical rigor and industriousness, and was invited back full-time in mid-2002. A graduate of Lincoln University, New Zealand, with a bachelor's in viticulture and oenology, he has worked in vineyards and wineries throughout New Zealand. When he is not at the winery, Mike is likely careening along an Oregon waterway in his kayak, keeping up with the Portland restaurant scene, and drinking beer. He lives in Portland, with his wife, Hilary.

 2006 Stoller Vineyards Ian's Reserve Chardonnay
Suggested Retail Price: $36

The Wine

Entirely Dijon clone, this is our attempt to make fine white Burgundy, complete with richness, balance, and great acid structure for aging. Named for Ian Peterson-Nedry, it is our best white and, as vines continue to age, may be one of the best Chardonnays you’ve tasted. (Each year we select one of Ian's poems to appear on the back label.)

Dijon Clones

Acquired from Burgundy’s collection of clones selected at the University in Dijon as vineyard replants, Dijon clones are well suited to the cool climate of Oregon. Ripening as in Burgundy, slightly before Pinot Noir rather than two weeks afterward as was common with the original clones selected for a warmer California climate, these clones revolutionize Oregon Chardonnay. Over the last couple decades, strong cooperation between Burgundians and Oregonians, led by Raymond Bernard and David Adelsheim, respectively, resulted in a number of these clones being brought into Oregon State University’s clonal importation program, the favorites being 75, 76, 95, and 96. They have been planted throughout the valley and constitute almost exclusively the source of serious Oregon Chardonnays, including Ian’s Reserve and our INOX®.

The Vineyard

A south-sloping, 176-acre vineyard on a 373-acre parcel, Stoller Vineyards is one of our newest vineyards, containing state-of-the-art clones, rootstocks, and planting densities, as well as full viticultural tools such as drip irrigation. Stoller has 75, 76, 95, and 96 Dijon Chardonnay clones, at two high densities. A warm site at the tip of the Dundee Hills, elevations range from 200–600 feet and soils are Jory, a soil series of deep red volcanic loam. Site and clones assure full ripeness in all vintages.

The Vintage

I have the highest regard for the Pinot Noirs from 2006. The reds should be held to high expectations. The whites are the surprise, since a very warm vintage often blunts the acid, raises alcohol to unbalance the wine, and softens the fruit to soft and fleshy. Not so in 2006. The Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc are crisp, bright, and scintillating in fruit aromas and complex in spice and fruit flavors. The warmth that came during the growing season abated before most fruit began ripening, with cooler days and acid-saving nights, giving finesse to the wines. Appealing early, they should age respectably, too. Color me pleased.

Stats

• Harvested 10/6–10/9/2006 from Stoller Vineyards @ 23.5–24.1 brix, 5.7 g/L TA, and
  3.39–3.48 pH; from 3.8–4.0 tons per acre cropload
• Fermentation: 40% CY3079, 40% Native Yeast, 10% VL2, and 10% VL3 in French oak barrels from four coopers
• Cooperage/Aging: 32% new, 8% one-use, 60% older barrels; on lees with batonage & no racking for 10 mos.
• Clonal Selection: 100% Dijon-clone fruit
• Bottled 9/5/2007 with cold stabilization and sterile filtration
• Bottling Analyses: 14.75% alcohol, 3.5 pH, 5.6 g/L TA and 0.27% residual sugar
• Cases Produced: 458 cases
• Release Date: March 2009