Get to Know the Willamette Valley AVAs: Eola-Amity Hills
Known for producing some of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in the Willamette Valley, the Eola-Amity Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA) is defined by the marine winds that flow through the Van Duzer Corridor, the lowest point in Oregon’s coast range. In the 1800s, Oregon pioneer and musician Lindsay Robbins likened the region’s winds to an Aeolian wind harp, inspiring a village named Eola at the ridge’s southern tip. Today, we’re continuing our series on the 11 nested AVAs of Oregon Wine Country with an exploration of Eola-Amity Hills.
Eola-Amity Hills AVA
Situated northwest of Salem, Oregon’s state capital, and just one hour southwest of Portland, the Eola-Amity Hills AVA sprawls across 39,200 acres of volcanic soils and verdant hills. Thanks to its position east of the Van Duzer Corridor, the region is blessed with cool Pacific Ocean breezes that produce grapes with higher acidity, firmer structure, and bolder identity.
While the appellation became official in 2006, winemaker pioneers began growing here in the 1970s, with Jerry and Anne Preston planting Amity Vineyards and Don Byard of Hidden Springs planting several vineyards in the hills. Eola-Amity Hills is particularly known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gamay Noir varietals, however, many wineries still experiment with other types.
Featured Eola-Amity Hills Wineries
Popular For: Tasting Room Views
Björnson Vineyard | Salem, Oregon
Founded in 2006, Björnson Vineyard is committed to sustainability with a focus on renewable energy and minimal handling of their wines. Their beautiful stone tasting room features expansive views of Mt. Hood, as well as their vineyard and the surrounding valley. Varieties available include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Rosé, and Auxerrois made exclusively from grapes grown on-site.
Popular For: Up-and-Coming Winery
Tekstura Wine Co. | Amity, Oregon
Tekstura Wine Co. is a new winery with a modern tasting room and vineyard porch featuring exciting pours of Albariño and Sauvignon Blanc, plus classic Oregon varietals. Though the winery was purchased in 2021 by owners Michael and Natasha Baryla, its grapes were planted back in 2006 and they have been farmed organically ever since.
Popular For: Chardonnay
Cristom Vineyards | Salem, Oregon
Established in 1992 by the Gerrie family, Cristom Vineyards showcases just why Eola-Amity Hills is known for Chardonnay. A LIVE sustainable vineyard since 2007, Cristom features 76 acres of Pinot Noir and 9 acres of Chardonnay. The Cristom estate is open for a variety of tasting opportunities, from seated tastings to educational vineyard tours.
Popular For: Small Family Winery
Mystic Wines | Amity, Oregon
Mystic Wines produced their first vintage in their garage in 1992, and have remained a small family production ever since. Visit their Amity tasting room for a cozy, unhurried tasting experience of what they call the “unsung heroes” of the Oregon vineyard community—Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet, and Syrah.
Mystic Wines places a large focus on their low energy footprint, implementing a gravity flow system when bottling and collecting rainwater to use for irrigation.
Book Your Stay in the Willamette Valley at Tributary
Conveniently located near the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Tributary Hotel is nestled in the heart of historic McMinnville, Oregon, and offers a boutique hotel experience with world-class hospitality and luxury suites. Located 35 minutes from Salem and just 13 minutes from Amity, Tributary is your ideal base for exploring Oregon Wine Country.
Book now to reserve your stay.