Chehalem Estate is our newest vineyard and future home of Chehalem. First planted in 2007, the estate is currently 210-acre with just over 120-acres planted to vine. This vast land captures 17 different Pinot Noir clones, four clones of Chardonnay, four clones of Pinot Gris, two clones of Pinot Blanc, and Grüner Veltliner. Our goal is to have this extraordinary estate vineyard property completely planted in 2024, and fully producing grapes by 2027.
The soils are Laurelwood, a wind-blown loess formed when ancient northeastern winds blew glacial silt onto the northern faces of the volcanic uplifted landmass, that we call the Chehalem Mountains. The topsoil is layered to varying depths. Many large, weathered basalt boulders have been found in pockets around the farm, as well as several natural springs in the two drainages, Little Hells Canyon Creek and Chicken Creek.
This site is the coolest of our estate vineyards, which means it is often the last fruit to ripen and it is well suited to warmer vintages. Wines from Chehalem Estate carry beaming high tone red fruit characteristics such as wild strawberry and pie cherry in the Pinot Noir.