Anam Cara Cellars

Located on a southeast-facing slope of the Willamette Valley’s Chehalem Mountains AVA in the hills above Newberg, the vineyard was first planted by Nick and Sheila in 2001. The elevation varies from 350ft-650ft and the vineyard rows are planted in a north-south direction, benefiting from cool, drying winds through the 99W corridor which keep mildew and frost pressure at bay. The soils are primarily Loess (wind-blown ice age sediment) with bedrock and outcrops of volcanic Jory soils and deposits from the Missoula floods. Of the original 27 vineyard acres, five 5-acre blocks are Pinot Noirs planted to Pommard as well as Dijon Clones 114, 115, 667 and 777 on varying rootstocks, as well as an additional acre each of Riesling and Gewurztraminer. In 2008, the family planted a further six acres according to the biodynamic calendar and the new vines saw their first harvest in 2011. The younger vineyard is now planted in 1-acre blocks to Riesling and Chardonnay, as well as 1.5 acres of Wadenswil Pinot noir, with less than an acre each of Pommard and Dijon clone 113. In 2014, the Nicholas’ downsized their ownership to six acres, still purchasing fruit from the original plantings to make their wine. Anam Cara wines are grown and farmed organically.