The Yamhill Carlton District AVA, located in the northern Willamette Valley was described by Ken Wright in his original petition to the then BATF (now known as TTB) as a “south-facing bowl containing a series of horseshoe-shaped eroded hills”. This area surrounds the cities of Yamhill and Carlton and also straddles the Yamhill and Washington County border.

Like the Dundee Hills, soil is a crucial factor to the style of wines made in the region. The AVA’s ancient sedimentary rock imparts aromas and flavors such as coffee, cocoa, anise, cedar and tobacco into wines made from grapes grown in the region.

Like other Willamette Valley AVAs, only those vineyards falling within defined elevations (in this case between 200 and 1,000 feet) are permitted to use the AVA designation. This trend amongst the new Willamette Valley sub-appellations, such as the Yamhill Carlton District, only reaffirms Oregon as the leader of ‘terroir’ and quality consciousness in North America.

Given the orientation of vineyards and unique soil conditions found in the AVA, expect the Yamhill Carlton District to be a leading producer of concentrated, and lush styles of Oregon Pinot Noir for years to come. As with other Willamette Valley AVAs, only those vineyards falling within defined elevations (in this case between 200 and 1,000 feet) are permitted to use the AVA designation. This trend amongst the new Willamette Valley sub-appellations, such as the Yamhill Carlton District, only reaffirms Oregon as the leader of ‘terroir’ consciousness in North America.

Given the orientation of vineyards and the unique soil conditions found in the AVA, the Yamhill Carlton District is poised to be a leading producer of a distinctive and lush style of Oregon Pinot Noir for years to come.