Portland, Ore. (October 22, 2024) — The 2024 vintage in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country is shaping up to be one for the history books. With a season of slow and steady ripening, ideal temperatures, and model harvest conditions, the region’s signature Pinot noir promises to deliver a vintage that is vibrant, well-balanced, and truly collectible.
“2024 has been an absolute dream for winemakers,” said Anna Matzinger, winemaker at Matzinger Davies Wine Company. “We’ve had highs in the low to mid-70s°F and mostly sunny skies for weeks now, which has allowed us to be proactive rather than reactive in our decision-making. This gift of time has allowed sugar accumulation and phenolic ripeness to proceed in tandem with cool
temperatures, preserving bright acidity and helping to develop incredible flavors.”
The slower sugar accumulation in grapes this season has allowed for extended hang time, which is crucial for the development of complex flavors in Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and other popular Willamette Valley varieties. As a result, wineries are seeing perfectly ripe fruit without the concern of high alcohol content or diminishing acidity.
“With these conditions, we’re seeing ideal phenolic ripeness,” added Bryan Laing, winemaker at Hazelfern Cellars. “The mid-September cooling was a gift, bringing nighttime temperatures down into the 50s°F and peaking at around 70°F during the day. This balance has helped maintain acidity while allowing fruit flavors to mature beautifully.”
Although the season experienced a brief spike in temperatures, with a few days reaching 100°F, the heat merely gave grape sugars a slight boost without compromising the overall quality. This short-lived warm spell helped recalibrate sugar levels without rushing the harvest, and the quick return to cool, ideal conditions has preserved the balance and character that define this exceptional vintage.
“As of now, harvest has mostly wrapped up,” noted James Cahill, winemaker at North Valley Vineyards and La Biblioteca. “Now, winemakers are focused in the cellar, carefully guiding the wines through fermentation—a vital stage in crafting wines that express the true character of our terroir.”
With winemakers able to pick gradually throughout the harvest season, 2024 promises a vintage characterized by vibrant fruit flavors, low alcohol, and exceptional acidity. “This is a classic Willamette Valley vintage, one that collectors and wine lovers will want to secure for their cellars,” continued Cahill.
The 2024 vintage wines will begin releasing with white and Rosé wines in the spring of 2025, while Pinot noir, after proper aging, will start becoming available later in 2025. In the meantime, the 2023 vintage is already receiving stellar reviews, with early-released wines praised for their fruit-forward character and approachability, reminiscent of great years like 2018 and 2015. More 2023 wines are currently being bottled and released, offering a rich, accessible profile that wine lovers can enjoy now. For more information about wineries, harvest stories, and available wines, please visit: www.willamettewines.com.
About Willamette Valley Wineries Association
The Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA) is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregon’s acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premier Pinot noir–producing region. Currently, the WVWA has more than 400 members representing wineries, vineyards, industry, and hospitality businesses throughout the Willamette Valley region. To learn more about the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, visit willamettewines.com.
