Archery Summit Vineyards
"Great winemaking begins in the vineyard, and this old-world mantra has been Archery Summit’s guidepost from the very beginning. Because we focus exclusively on estate vineyards, we control our destiny by constantly searching for the best possible combination of plant, soil and cultivation. On 100 acres of prime Jory soil in the Red Hills of Dundee, you will find the living, growing proof of this dedication. Dijon clones (113, 114, 115, 667 and 777) are site-selected and blended with existing mature rootstock. Densely planted vertically trellised vines are forced to compete, producing smaller berries with fewer, more concentrated clusters. Leaves are hand-thinned to ensure maximum sunlight reaches the grapes. Clusters are sacrificed to further reduce yields. And, unlike most vineyards, where fruit grows chest-high for ease of harvest, we train ours closer to the nutrient producing rootstock. Of course, all of this requires more care from bud break to harvest, but we know that there are no shortcuts to quality."
Origin of Archery Summit
"Terra Firma: When a series of Ice Age floods poured through the Cascade Mountains forming 400-foot-deep freshwater seas, the geology of Oregon’s Willamette Valley changed radically. As the floodwaters drained into the Pacific, they deposited complex, mineral-rich sediment. Thousands of years later, we’re reaping the benefits of these exceptional soils and enjoying the timeless characteristics they lend our grapes. Grown in the flood-sculpted Dundee Hills of the Willamette Valley, our Pinot Noir grapes are among the best anywhere.
Climate: That the Dundee Hills are home to Burgundy’s noble Pinot Noir grape is no coincidence: our vineyards and those of northern France share the same latitude—a commonality that translates into long days of sunshine and cool night breezes. Thus, our grapes ripen gradually, filling with flavor and juice until the very end of summer. This perfect climate paired with the nutrient-rich, well-drained soils of Oregon’s Dundee Hills allow us to produce Pinot Noirs of intriguing depth and complexity, vintage after vintage.
Pioneers: During the late 1960s and early 1970s, a small group of inspired Californian winemakers, intent on creating a new American wine region, migrated north to Oregon. These ardent farmers were soon growing superb Pinot Noir grapes. In no time, Oregon Pinot Noirs were turning heads in blind tastings of the world’s very best. Archery Summit has taken those first successes to new levels by continuing to aim high. We’ve dedicated ourselves to hands-on vineyard management and to crafting our Pinot Noirs in the state’s first 100 percent gravity-flow winery."
© Archery Summit Winery
