The Wines:

White Salmon Vineyard markets wines under two brands:

White Salmon Vineyard: wines produced from grapes grown at Our Vineyard, all or in part, are labeled White Salmon Vineyard. Wines made from 100% White Salmon Vineyard grapes are labeled “estate”.

Brehm Vineyards: wines produced from grapes grown on other vineyards are labeled Brehm Vineyards. Some grapes are sourced from non contiguous states, like California. These wines are unable to carry their appellation and vintage date due to federal label rules.

Chardonnay:

The Chardonnay grape has been found to grow and produce high quality wine in many regions.  In the ‘new world’ Carneros Chardonnay from the cool region of Napa and Sonoma Valleys is likely to be standard. It has been referred to as the Beethoven of Chardonnays. The Carneros wines have reasonable balance, acidity and a distinctive, refined Chardonnay fruit character. They are easily complimented with oak, malolactic fermentations and various winemaker inspired manipulations. The Chardonnay grape’s character is not that powerful and it readily accepts the colorations of the winemaker. The Carneros allows a long, fairly cool growing season that guard’s its subtle character. Warmer areas will diminish its distinctive character while cooler areas, with long growing seasons, accentuate its character.

The Chardonnay wines of White Salmon Vineyard have a refined, lighter character than the Carneros.  The shorter growing season, and the cooler ripening period produces wine with more mineral, pear-like character. The wines age much longer in the bottle and evolve with aging in a manner distinct and preferable to the Carneros standard.

There are Chardonnays for every palatte. WSV offers two, both dry, both capable of aging.

Big White Chardonnay.  Fermented in stainless steel without a malolactic fermentation. A bright, clean wine ideal for tapas, entertaining, and every day accompaniment  with food.

Estate Chardonnay. Fermented in aged French oak with a malolactic fermentation and maximium lees contact. Often held for one year in wood, the wine is very subtly integrated with oak and demands attention to identify. The exposure to the spent lees provides a light yeasty quality, and a viscosity and weight to the wine. It is a wine where less is more. Its purity and refined character compliments fine food and serious wine tasting. In our limited experience these wines have lasted, and pleasantly evolved over 10 years.

 Pinot Noir:

The Pinot Noir of the White Salmon region continue a style most similar to that of the Willamette Valley. The slightly shorter growing season and slightly higher heat spikes of July and August tend to produce a wine of lighter color and depth than the very best of the Willamette. White Salmon Vineyard’s Pinot Noir is a work in progress. We age the wine in neautral oak for over a year. It has reasonable Pinot Noir color and obvious Pinot Noir character. Our lack of using heavier oak flavoring is to allow us, and you, to concentrate on the Pinot Noir fruit. Once this is developed we will add more oak and higher prices.

Sauvignon Blanc:

San Crispin Field Cuvee:

Riesling:

Spicy White:

White Salmon Vineyard:

The Place:

The Vineyard:

The People: