We got our hands dirty at IPNC, diving into the three dominant soil types of the Willamette Valley!
“Elk Cove is one of the Founding Wineries of the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) held in Oregon each Summer and it is by far the best wine event on the planet!
Educational, inspirational, and super-fun, this Pinot Celebration brings together the best winemakers from Burgundy, Oregon, California as well as top folks from New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Germany, Australia (too many to list) for a weekend of seminars, tastings, sharing of ideas and amazing meals in the relaxed collegial setting of Linfield College in McMinnville.”
-Adam Campbell, Elk Cove Vineyards Owner & Winemaker
Our 2017 IPNC seminar at the Elk Cove Winery Estate explored the three main soil types of the Northern Willamette Valley: Willakenzie, Laurelwood & Jory.
On a knoll overlooking some of the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley, our winemaker Adam Campbell was joined by three International and American Pinot Noir winemakers for a blending seminar exploring the relationship between soil and aromatics and fruit expression. We tasted barrel samples of our La Bohème (Willakenzie/marine sediment), Five Mountain (Laurelwood/windblown silt) and Clay Court (Jory/volcanic clay) vineyards. IPNC guests then tried their hand at crafting the perfect blend!
Curious how soil affects wine? Our IPNC Soil Trilogy is a great way to experience three wines made with the same varietal, by the same winemaker, our own Adam Campbell, from grapes grown on each of the three primary soil types here in the Willamette Valley. We are very fortunate to farm Pinot Noir on each of the three major Willamette Valley soil types: Willakenzie (marine sedimentary), Laurelwood (windblown silt) and Jory (volcanic clay).
What is the signature of soil types in Oregon’s Willamette Valley? This is your chance to find out first-hand and taste for yourself.
Our Single Vineyard Wines are made in small runs, this offer is only available while supplies last.
Buy the Trilogy >
The Oregonian’s Readers Choice Awards awarded Elk Cove’s wine tasting experience one of the five best in Oregon! With over 1000 wineries in Oregon, this is a huge honor.
Joe grew up at his family’s motel in Hood River, Oregon and attended Hood River High School. Always a hard worker, Joe had 11 jobs before the age of 18 including working at the Lone Pine Motel, strawberry picking, setting pins at the bowling alley and driving spikes on the railroad.
Owner/Winemaker Adam Campbell gives us an update on Vintage 2025 on September 12th, right at the beginning of harvest. Themes for the year are an early harvest, small clusters and berries and fewer seeds in Pinot noir. What will the wines be like? We have some work to do before we can really judge, but we’re feeling optimistic so far!
