2019 PINOT NOIR
LOT 72
KING OF THE NORTH
VINEYARD | Apolloni estate
clone | 90% WÄdensvil, 10% Dijon 113
APPELLATION | Tualatin Hills
WINEMAKERS | Alfredo Apolloni and Kevin Green
HARVEST DATES | OCTOBER 10, 2019
BOTTLING | march 3, 2021
ALCOHOL | 12.85%
PRODUCTION | 60 BOTTLES / 5 cases
The Wine
In the far northern reaches of the Willamette Valley, there lies a special spot, high on top of a hill, planted with noble Pinot noir grapes. It is here that magic is made with sunshine, cool winds, unique soils and winemaking passed down through generations. It was thought to be “too cool” and “too north.” But the Valley has grown and the finest barrel of wine is ready for its royal release! Sourced from a single block, on a gentle east-facing slope, it reflects the opulence, power and grace of the northernmost reaches of our land.
Alfredo Apolloni grew up in a winemaking family in northern Italy, where wine is made as it has been, with tradition, and as it should be. It was here, as a child and young adult, he learned by doing—working in the fields and at the side of winemakers, and understanding family tradition that is infused in the best wines. When he started his own family, he and his wife Laurine knew they needed to raise their family in the shadow of the vines. They searched for just the right location: one that would nurture the Pinot noir grapes, but also allow for the exploration of cooler-climate varieties, including the stainless-steel white wines of Alfredo’s family tradition.
They moved to Oregon and established their vineyard on a piece of land in the northernmost reaches of the Willamette Valley, tucked up against the Coast Range and protected by forest and a natural rain shadow. With varying slope, soil, elevation and clones, they produce Pinot noir unique to the cool climate and wind-blown soils of this end of the Willamette Valley and the newly established Tualatin Hills AVA. Alfredo was instrumental the creation of this AVA, named for and principally defined by the watershed of the Tualatin River. The area has a long agricultural history and is home to the very first commercial vineyard in Oregon.
Our selected wine is a manifestation of a moment in time and place, captured in the bottle. It is sourced from our Olivia Vineyard, named after our daughter, Laura Olivia, and is as vibrant and lively as she is! This gentle, east-facing slope basks in the morning sun, with cooler, shaded afternoons. This elegant Pinot noir reflects the warm growing season of 2019, which culminated with cooler fall weather. This allowed for a slower pace to the final ripening of the fruit, with picking in the ideal mid-October window. It is made up primarily of the Wädensvil clone (90%) with just a bit of Dijon 113 (10%) blended in. Both clones were planted over 20 years ago and offer distinctive cool-climate Pinot noir qualities, beautifully aged for 16 months in a new Billon barrel. The result is a silky, smooth wine with a concentration of cherry fruit, spice and complexity. The wine has been carefully crafted and selected to represent a snapshot of a beautiful vintage and an example of winemaking tradition being passed down through generations.
Learn more about this lot during Preview Week (July 26–30) when winemaker Alfredo Apolloni will present this wine during a virtual tasting session on July 29. Register here.
The Winery
Apolloni Vineyards is a family–owned and operated estate property showcasing cool climate varieties, including Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc and Chardonnay. Alfredo’s winemaking tradition dates back over 150 years, with family vineyards in northern Italy. He and his wife, Laurine, established the vineyard in 1999, so that his children could grow up sharing the adventure. Our vineyard and winery are LIVE Certified, encompassing 45 acres planted on Laurelwood soils, tucked up against the forest with sweeping views of the Coast Range. We strive to produce wines that are distinctive; made with a deft hand and nod to restraint, as an authentic reflection of place and vintage.
Learn more about Apolloni Vineyards
Follow: @apolloniwine
All wine is sold FOB the location of the winery that produced the lot purchased. WVWA is not responsible for shipping wine. Shipping or delivery arrangements, expenses and insurance are the sole responsibility of the purchaser. Any shipment of wines out-of-state is the responsibility of the purchaser, who is solely responsible for compliance with the laws and regulations of said state.
The producing winery currently has distribution in the below listed countries and states. A list of distributors is available upon request.
USA: CA, CT, DC, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NY, RI, OR, TX, VA, WA