Cardwell Hill Cellars

Good wine comes from good fruit. At Cardwell Hill, we take this maxim seriously. Our vineyards, located in a small microclimate between Corvallis and the Coastal Range, provide ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The Jory soil over fractured basault formations, the north-south slope, the warm days followed by cool evenings, and the natural underground moisture produce grapes with intense color and just-the-right acidity. Mother nature provides the irrigation, thus the plants obtain the moisture they need, not what a mechanical system allocates. Annually our crew goes through the vineyards an average 35-40 times each season cultivating, leaf-pulling, and a multiplicity of other tasks. All Cardwell Hill wines are produced from estate-grown fruit, allowing us to harvest at just the right time.

As soon as the fruit reaches the winery, the processing begins. With our award-winning Pinot Noir, four clones are separately blended into all of our wines in an optimal manner. As soon as primary fermentation is complete, the juice is moved by gravity into our barrel room, located in the cool underground barrel room and the aging process begins. Our Reserve Pinots rest in French oak for 18 months, while our estate blend is aged for ten months. The wines are then blended and bottled on our own bottling line.

Fermentation for white and rosé wines takes place in stainless steel tanks. The Blanc de Noir is finished in an off-dry style, making this a perfect sipping wine, while the Pinot Gris and Rosé from Pinot Noir are dry and extremely food-friendly.

Each year Cardwell Hill wine evidences some variation due to terroir, that ineffably French term, which encompasses weather, soil, and processing, all in one word. We are proud to share our wines with you and appreciate your loyalty.