Torio Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA
Torio Vineyard, named after grandson Vittorio, is situated only one mile from the highest point in the Willamette Valley; Bald Peak State Park at 1,633 feet in elevation. At 1,140 feet, Torio Vineyard commands a dramatic view of Mount Saint Helen’s and Mount Adams.
The gentle slopes of Laurelwood soil are primarily west, northwest-facing, well-situated so that the prevailing winds maintain vine-health. Torio Vineyard undergoes significant thinning to maximize ripening, except for the Précoce clone that has a regular and even yield.
Vineyard at a Glance:
Acres: 5 acres (2 hectares)
Elevation: 1,140 feet (347 m)
Soils: Laurelwood
Aspect: west; northwest
Established: 2011
Vine Density: 1,100 vines/acre
Varietals: Pinot Noir
Clones: Pommard, Dijon 115, 828, 777, Précoce
First Vintage: 2017
A selection of Pinot Noir clones (Pommard, several Dijon clones and a rare variety – Précoce) were planted in 2011 and are now more than 10 years old. Wines from Torio Vineyard are aromatic and nuanced, offering notes of strawberries and cherries in cooler vintages and darker fruit in riper years.
Our Pommard Block at Torio is popular with grape customers for making sparkling wine. We did, however, manage to reserve a portion of our production to make Three Feathers Pinot POP, a single-clone sparkling red wine beautifully carbonated by Casteel Custom Bottling.
Pinot Noir Précoce, as the name implies, has a unique attribute that it blooms almost two weeks earlier than other Pinot Noir. As a consequence, the grapes ripen two to three weeks earlier. Précoce’s smaller berries add to the intensity of our single-clone Pinot Madeleine wine, presenting complex flavors and delicate aromas.
Our Dijon clones at Torio Vineyard are the backbone for our wine-making, as well as a source of inspiration for wines such as our 2018 Blanc de Noirs. Excellent for sparkling wine and rosé, we are exploring new angles with these grapes at every vintage.
Torio Vineyard Photo Gallery
Three Feathers Vineyard
Torio Vineyard and Three Feathers Vineyard are located 2 miles apart on Finnigan Hill Road. Despite the fact that the property lines touch each other at one corner, growing conditions are slightly different based on the treeline and difference in altitude (about 300 feet)….
Read More about Three Feathers Vineyard