Polk County is the geographic center of the Willamette Valley AVA and features the Eola Hills, one of several proposed new appellations for Oregon. The Eola Hills are a north-south ridge, with most of the vineyards located on the eastern side of the ridge. In this section of the County, grapes benefit from southeastern exposures, a mix of weathered ...  [>] Read More basalt soil, and protection from the direct effect of Pacific winds. The bravest of the County’s vineyards are in the Van Duzer corridor, which cuts through the coastal mountain range. Here, on hillsides with well-draining soil, vineyards have a slightly cooler climate than adjacent areas in Polk County. In summer, they also register significantly lower minimum temperatures than vineyards on Willamette Valley’s northern edge, forcing vineyards to extend the growing season.The rest of the vineyards are scattered along the eastern foothills of the Coast Range. Polk County does not have as many vineyards or wineries as neighboring Yamhill County, but its unique terroir will be significant in the ongoing redefinition of the Willamette Valley.
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