Plans include planting a 15-20 acre estate vineyard, conducting sparkling-focused research, and building a tasting room and winery designed specifically for sparkling wines
PORTLAND, Ore. (July 27, 2022) – Corollary Wines, known for producing distinctive traditional method sparkling wines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, has purchased 57 acres in Eola-Amity Hills where they will develop Oregon’s first property dedicated exclusively to sparkling wines. Plans for the land, which will be managed and developed under the guidance of permaculture and regenerative agriculture principles, include an estate vineyard as well as a tasting room and winery, with the tasting room targeted to open by the spring of 2024.
The land, previously used for timber, has never before been planted as a vineyard. Corollary founders Dan Diephouse and Jeanne Feldkamp will prepare the land and plant inaugural vines specifically for sparkling wine on 15-20 acres starting in the spring of 2023. They will focus on traditional champagne varieties including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, as well as less commonly used sparkling varieties Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. As one of few vineyards that plants for sparkling, and the only vineyard in the state that plants exclusively for sparkling, Dan and Jeanne will use the extensive knowledge they’ve gained over the last five years to experiment with root stocks, clones, and row orientation as they work to find the best ways to farm for sparkling in the valley.
Dan and Jeanne’s path to winemaking began more than a decade ago when they dove into their love of sparkling wine through tastings, visiting their favorite Champagne grower-producers, and extensive reading. Through spending time in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, near Jeanne’s hometown of Beaverton, they realized the potential of Oregon’s geography and climate for sparkling and saw an opportunity to further the conversation around bubbles through the exploration of different sites and styles. They currently produce about 1100 cases annually.
“We believe the Willamette Valley is one of the best places on the planet to make world-class sparkling wine,” says Jeanne Feldkamp of Corollary Wines. “Corollary’s early years have been about exploration—about understanding, in broad strokes, the relationships between site selection, farming choices, winemaking practices, and the finished wines. Now, with our own vineyard, we’re thrilled to take the next step in our journey: creating an integrated, regenerative agricultural system completely focused on farming for bubbles.”
Jessica Cortell, owner of vineyard management company Vitis Terra Vineyard Services, helped them find the site and will guide management of the vineyard. Since 2017, she has helped Corollary source grapes from many gifted growers and farmers who are committed to farming sustainably—whether organically, biodynamically, or LIVE certified.
“There are so many things we don’t yet know about farming specifically for sparkling wine,” says Jessica Cortell. “Through thoughtful design, choice of plant material, and methodical experimentation, Corollary’s new vineyard will help the whole industry better understand the connections between how we farm and what we produce.”
Follow the development of the property on corollarywines.com, and @corollarywines on Instagram and Facebook. Join them for a private winemaker tastings April through October at 6451 NE Hilltop Ln, Dayton, OR 97114. Tastings are held by appointment only from 11 AM to 3 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. One $35/person fee will be waived with each purchase of three 750mL bottles.
ABOUT COROLLARY WINES
Corollary Wines, founded by Dan Diephouse and Jeanne Feldkamp, has been creating distinctive traditional method sparkling wines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley since 2017. Dan and Jeanne began their path to winemaking by learning as much as possible about sparkling wine through tastings, visiting their favorite Champagne grower-producers, reading books, and eventually experimenting with traditional-method sparkling cider in their garage.
Through spending time over the years in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, near Jeanne’s hometown of Beaverton, they realized that Oregon has the perfect geography and climate to produce amazing sparkling wines. They are dedicated to exploring the terroir of the region and its expression in every bottle. Intention, care, and precision are paramount in every detail in their process—from grape growing to winemaking to the guest experience.
Corollary currently produces about 1100 cases annually. They are committed to working with growers who follow sustainable farming practices. As an extension of this commitment, they recently purchased an expansive 57-acre property in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA where they will plant estate grapes and conduct sparkling-focused research. Management of the property will be guided by regenerative agriculture principles. In addition, the company plans to build a tasting room and a winery designed specifically for sparkling wines, with the tasting room targeted to open by the spring of 2024.
Corollary will be offering private winemaker tastings through October at 6451 NE Hilltop Ln, Dayton, OR 97114. Tastings are held by appointment only from 11 AM to 3 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. They also offer a 3, 6 or 12 bottle wine club where members get first access to new and limited release wines, including magnums and extended tirage bottlings.
