Winner: Archery Summit
Photo by Andrea Johnson
On a gravel road off Highway 18 outside Dayton is a steep driveway leading to the gates of Pinot noir heaven. Every detail of Archery Summit’s operation speaks to the luxury wines crafted in Oregon’s first 100 percent gravity-flow winery. No mechanical pumps here—just a gentle pull of gravity from hand sorting and de-stemming on the top floor to the fermentation hall, aging caves and bottling areas below. Built in 1993, the winery has earned a reputation for big, complex and layered Pinot noirs. It produces six single-vineyard wines, a cuvée and, in the summer, a rosé. All but one of 120 acres are planted in Pinot noir grapes. One acre is devoted to Pinot gris. Interestingly, its production team is predominantly female, including winemaker Anna Matzinger and winegrower Leigh Bartholomew. Visit the on-site tasting room and try the Renegade Ridge or Red Hills. Tasting is $15; tours $25. (archerysummit.com)
Runner-Up: King Estate
King Estate, located near Eugene, is credited with making Pinot gris a favorite of white wine drinkers, but it also produces excellent Pinot noir and a limited amount of Chardonnay. Started in 1991 by the King family, the 1,033-acre estate winery—Oregon’s largest— uses organic and sustainable farming methods. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Lorane Valley, eat in the upscale restaurant and sip wine at the tasting bar. (kingestate.com)
