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** Directions to Station #2:
You will walk along the vineyard road, due west (to your left) approx 62 steps. Station 2 will be on the left edge of the driveway.
As your palate learns to distinguish these soils you will begin to understand the importance of terroir. You may also start to identify wines merely with smell and taste. A wine expert, known as a Sommelier, is able to identify region, varietal, and vintage. Do you find yourself preferring wines grown & produced by a certain area? That’s terroir. That’s also known as being a wine geek. It’s okay, wine geeks are welcomed at David Hill.
With the farmhouse at your back, look to the hillside in front of you - these are pinot noir and chardonnay vines planted in the mid 1960's. Your hike today will immerse you in both old vines as well as newer plantings.
"Taste the wines here and you can taste the terroir of all of the above five factors, but it is the Laurelwood soil with its Pisolites that make David Hill wines so special."
– Scott Burns, Professor of Geology, Portland State University
*Soil images provided by Elk Cove
Volcanic Soils are mainly Jory Series and the Nekia (shallow Jory) Series.
Marine Sediment Soils are primarily; Willakenzie, Wellsdale, and Melbourne Soil Series
Windblown Silt on Volcanic Soils are mainly the Laurelwood Series.
Pisolites are only found in Volcanic and Windblown Silt on Volcanic Soils.
Terroir is a combination of the total attributes of the vineyard: the particular grape, the geology/soil where essential nutrients come from, the climate, the slope, elevation and aspect, and the soil’s water-holding capacities.
David Hill Vineyard has a special terroir. One of the reasons is our geology and the soil.
The geology is 15 million year-old bedrock comprised of volcanic rock and basalt. The volcano where it came from was 350 miles away, where Oregon, Washington and Idaho come together, and the lava flowed to this place where it solidified.
Mother Nature modified it with windblown silt and weathered it to an old soil classified as the Laurelwood Soil Series. Formed in the soil are iron concretions geologists call pisolites – little rounded balls of iron oxides and hydroxides that are the size of sand and gravel. These pisolites impart a special flavor to our wines.
Think Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, to name a few.
Terroir is a French term used to describe wines. The word translates as, taste of the place, and means location is a definitive factor contributing to the characteristics found in wine grapes, especially with cool climate grapes.
White obelisk with yellow birdhouse
** Directions to Station #3:
You will walk due south (left) and walk along the Pinot Gris row for 210 steps in the grass. Walk past the fenced garden spot (on your left). When you come to the vineyard driveway, cross straight over and into the row of grapevines. Look for the small directional sign with an arrow showing you which row to use. The station will be in the middle of the row on a single post (no obelisk) on your left. Watch for the yellow birdhouse.
When current owners, Milan & Jean Stoyanov, purchased the property in the late 1990’s they re-established its legacy by naming it David Hill Vineyards & Winery. The first David Hill-labeled wines were from the 2000 vintage.
The team today looks to the Stoyanov Family for their leadership, friendship and the nurture of sharing wine with customers who become friends. The vision for David Hill revolves around a passion for excellent wine, a stewardship of the vines, and the legacy of place.
"It’s odd how a fancy for touring and tasting good wine and the spell of autumn light on a vineyard property can turn a soon-to-be-retired lumber businessman into a vineyard owner. What began as a casual ‘good investment idea’ in 1992 evolved into a passion for maintaining the legacy of the Willamette Valley’s oldest Pinot Noir vines and nurturing wines that demonstrate their quality."
-Milan Stoyanov, Owner
Take a moment to look back at the farmhouse. The Rueter Family built it in 1883 and proceeded to grow grapes for wine. In fact, at the1904 World Fair the wine produced here received a gold medal. Sadly, during Prohibition all the original vines were removed.
Fast-forward to the 1960’s when a man named Charles Coury entered the DH story. He noted that Oregon’s climate and latitude were similar to that of Burgundy, France. He theorized grapes planted here would grow and also thrive. In 1965 Charles Coury purchased what is now David Hill Estate and planted Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, among others. A few of these varietals were hand carried in a suitcase from France.
In 2015 the vines Charles Coury planted turned 50 years old. Yes, we had a party. We even created a special wine with our old vine Pinot Noir to commemorate the occasion. Charles Coury’s son joined in the festivities and helped us celebrate.
If you are facing the station marker you will see Pinot Gris grapes on your left and Chardonnay grapes on your right, both planted in 1995. These plantings allowed our property to complement the older varietal and clonal plantings.
Our 40-acre vineyard is a contiguous southeast, south, and southwest-facing hillside nestled within the estate’s 140 acres. We are one of the northern-most vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Situated between 360' and 625' in elevation this Estate Vineyard is a special place with a unique and mysterious history - a story still being revealed.
White obelisk with yellow birdhouse
** Directions to Station #4:
Proceed south (to your right), down the row you are currently in. When you reach the end of the row, look across the tractor path for the obelisk at Station 4.
Sadly, Charles Coury passed away in 2004. He never disclosed the original location in Europe where these cuttings were taken. Many speculate it to be Alsace, France. DNA sequencing has recently reached a level where we can give our vines a voice. Stay tuned as we attempt to solve the Mystery of the Coury Clone.
If a vine was planted as a specific rootstock and has never been grafted it is considered original rootstock, or, self-rooted. The plant has its original and native roots as opposed to being grafted onto a mother plant. Original rootstock is not common because it is generally more susceptible to issues that can affect its longevity. Special care and handling are required for these unique and rare vines.
In the mid 1960's when Charles Coury, a graduate of UC Davis, came to Northern Oregon he planted our oldest vines. Coury brought back some of our original rootstock from Alsace and Burgundy in a suitcase. These are referred to as suitcase cuttings. This was around the same time other early wine pioneers, including David Lett, Dick Erath, Dick Ponzi, and David Adelsheim, came to the Willamette Valley.
You are currently standing in the middle of Block 21, planted in1965. These vines are original rootstock. They were cuttings carried by Charles Coury, in his suitcase, from France to Oregon. In addition, it is one of the oldest Pinot Noir blocks in the Willamette Valley. Lastly, it is Coury Clone. These are the vines that grow the grapes for our signature BlackJack Pinot Noir.
ALL Coury Clone plants in the Willamette Valley originated from THE precise block where you are standing. Our vines are THE PATERNAL GRANDFATHER of all the Coury Clone plants across the valley. For years this clone has been used by many of the best producers in Oregon. Whenever you hear Coury Clone, remember standing in this exact block.
Some clones are fruitier while others retain acidity. The options are vast. Grape vines are selected for specific traits and then grafted onto a mother plant or rootstock. This is a common practice in every wine region.
What is a clone? In grapes, if a cutting or bud of a mother plant or vine is taken, and planted, it is considered a clone. Generally, grape growers find a vine with a specific trait they want to replicate and, much the way a chef would select spices for their kitchen, a winemaker chooses their clones.
Charles and Shirley Coury, circa mid 1960's
Pole located mid-row with yellow birdhouse
Time for your next pour
** Directions to Station #5:
Proceed to your left and up the hill. When you come to the Y at the large Oak Tree, stay to your right along the farm road.
All these credentials speak to our commitment of excellent stewardship of this special place. Our goal is to commit to best practices in all we do. With decisions we are making now, we know the property will continue to give back to the community, as well as the Oregon Wine Industry, long into the future.
Today, the farmhouse is the iconic symbol of our brand and the farm is more vibrant than ever.
In farming, we don't just prevent the use of inorganic products; we also seek to positively influence our vineyard. On any given day you may observe community events that advocate for better soil microbiology such as bio-char workshops. You may even hear honeybees in the garden, venturing from our apiary. The honeybee hives were added to the property to foster The Willamette Valley pollinator highway, which contributes to a buzzing ecosystem. The primary source of nectar and pollen for our bees is blackberry flowers on the property. David Hill produces single-origin honey from the colonies in our apiary. The honey sells out quickly. Check for availability in the tasting room.
Vineyard management greatly influences the essence of our wines, which is why we farm organically.
This guarantees that our farming practices actively promote biodiversity and soil health, reduces chemical input, and takes a minimalistic approach in and around the vineyard.
Both ownership and management at David Hill Vineyards believe it is our privilege and responsibility to be good stewards of this special place. As you look down the hill, imagine what it was like in 1965 to look out over this valley as the wine industry was just being birthed.
As you look down the hill, you are also looking at the location of the original Coury Nursery that provided many of the first plantings of clonal plant material to the entire Willamette Valley.
Wine is about balance. At David Hill Vineyards, as well as throughout the Willamette Valley, we have an opportunity to affect the health, longevity, and continuity of the landscape. We believe in farming that promotes biodiversity, protects soil, reduces chemical inputs, and takes a minimalistic approach. These careful and thoughtful efforts will have a positive impact on both our land and our wines.
the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.
White obelisk with yellow birdhouse
** Directions to Station #6:
Continue northeast, up the hill, along the edge of the vineyard Station 6 will be on your rightLook for the white obelisk with the yellow birdhouse
Charles Coury is quoted in the book, The Boys Up North, as saying, "I knew there were great similarities between the climates of France and Oregon, which are nearly the same latitude."
The vineyard at David Hill is currently planted in Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Chasselas, Muscat, Sylvaner, Semillon, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. There are plans to expand the vineyard with an additional 4 acres. This expansion is west of the farmhouse, just beyond the Pinot Gris.
While cool climate regions definitely get warm on late summer afternoons, the fact that the temperatures drop off so quickly at night is what preserves the acidity and gives the wines a unique complexity. This is unique to the 45th Parallel locations of Alsace and the Willamette Valley. The block you are standing in is where Charles Coury conducted some of his wine trials. These 50+-year-old vines have something to say.
Before you leave Station 5, turn and look up the hill. This is Riesling, planted in the mid 1960's. More of those old vines we’ve been talking about. This white varietal was a passion for Charles Coury. He studied cool climate viticulture at university in Colmar, Alsace.
Riesling and Gewurztraminer are aromatic wine grapes that are more expressive in cooler climates. Both varieties are hig, meaning that the character of the wines is clearly influenced by the wine's place of origin.
If you stand on this line, you may not realize that the same latitude connects the mountains of Yellowstone National Park and the Piney Woods of Maine to the wine regions of Bordeaux, the Crimean Peninsula, the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, and the snowy northern tip of Hokkaido, Japan. What do these disparate regions of the earth have in common? Only that every day the sun will shine down on each place at exactly the same angle. Sun-seekers living in Lincoln City, Oregon and Minneapolis, Minnesota can take comfort knowing that the residents of Turin, Italy receive exactly the same length of daylight on the other side of the earth. When we compare Oregon with Alsace, France, we are essentially comparing Marine West Coast and Mediterranean Climates.
The 45th Parallel is Halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. It is an imaginary line that circles the earth.
White obelisk with yellow birdhouse
Time for your next pour
** To return to the farmhouse:
Follow the path to your left. When you see a break in the rows, turn left. Pause and take another deep breath. Or two… Conquer the hill and we will see you in the tasting room.
We feel this parcel of property, nestled in the hills above Forest Grove, Oregon, checks all the boxes. The team at David Hill is honored to be part of this special place. We strive to create an environment of education blended with fun.
Did your time in the vines reveal how incredibly special this place is?
We hope so!
Perhaps the hike has made you thirsty? Return to the concierge who will show you to a special table reserved for our hikers. You have one more wine pour to enjoy. This is the perfect time to share photos from your hike on our social media pages while you finish your charcuterie snack pack. Use the SHARE tab below to find quick links. Have any questions about David Hill Vineyards? Need another glass of wine? Want to take a few bottles home? Be sure to ask your server. They can help you with that.
What is it that makes a place special?
White obelisk with yellow birdhouse