When we talk about Oregon wine, we often talk about “pioneers.” But it is one thing to read about them in a textbook and another to walk the rows of Quarter Mile Lane—the very site where David and Ginny Adelsheim planted their first vines in 1971.
In the autumn of 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to step away from the floor and into the cellar for an internship at Adelsheim Vineyard. As a winemaker, I wanted to understand the “soul” of the Willamette Valley. What I found was a winery that hasn’t just witnessed Oregon’s wine history—it wrote it.
A Legacy of “Firsts”
Adelsheim isn’t just another winery in the Willamette Valley; it was the first winery established in the Chehalem Mountains. When David Adelsheim began, there was no blueprint for Oregon Pinot Noir. He had to help create the labeling regulations and the AVAs we rely on today.
During my time there, I saw how that founding spirit still lives in their current winemaking, led by the talented Gina Hennen. They are obsessively focused on Live Certified sustainability and showcasing the distinct “neighborhoods” of the Chehalem Mountains.
The Terroir: Sedimentary vs. Volcanic
One of the most powerful lessons from my internship was tasting the impact of soil diversity. Adelsheim works with a mosaic of estate vineyards:
- The Sedimentary Sites: Like Ribbon Springs, where ancient marine soils produce wines with structure, dark fruit, and a distinct “floral-meets-earth” spice.
- The Volcanic Sites: Like Bryan Creek, where the basalt-heavy soils yield Pinots that are more elegant, red-fruited, and possess a high-toned acidity.
A Masterclass in Chardonnay
While Pinot Noir is the king of Oregon, Adelsheim is quietly proving that Chardonnay is the queen. They were instrumental in bringing the “Dijon clones” from Burgundy to Oregon in the 70s and 80s. Tasting their Staking Claim Chardonnay during harvest was a revelation—it’s crisp, lean, and mineral-driven, proving that Oregon can rival the finesse of the Côte de Beaune.
The Takeaway
Working at Adelsheim humbled me. It reminded me that every bottle is a result of a “leap of faith” taken decades ago. Whether you are a wine professional or an enthusiast, you cannot truly understand the Willamette Valley without understanding Adelsheim.
As I continue my journey toward becoming an Winemaker, the lessons I learned in those Oregon cellars—the importance of place, the humility of the harvest, and the power of storytelling—are things I carry with me every time..