T270 Terroir—The Relationship of Geology, Soils, Hydrology, and Climate to Wine: A Special Tribute to George Moore

Wednesday, 21 October 2009
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
B113

TERROIR OF THE VIDON VINEYARD, NEWBERG, OREGON: BOTH JORY AND WILLAKENZIE SOILS

Paper number: T270-9
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Authors

Abstract

Soils were mapped at the Vidon Vineyard which is located on the footslopes of Chehalem Mountain just north of Newberg, Oregon in the northern Willamette Valley. Bedrock in the upper portion of the 15 acre vineyard is mainly Columbia River Basalt but in the lower portions one finds marine sediments of sandstone called the Pittsburg Bluff Formation. Soils on the upper slopes on the basalt are well-drained Jory soils (Typic Haplohumults) whereas the Willakenzie soils (Ultic Haploxeralfs) are present on the lower slopes on the marine sediments. Poorly drained soils (Humic Endoaquepts) exist in the depression at the bottom of the slope and are not used to grow grapes. Having soils of the two major soil types in the northern Willamette Valley in the same vineyard can lead to excellent tastings of the terroir at one time.