Illahe Grüner Veltliner Willamette Valley 2022

Situated in a relatively warm site in Willamette Valley, the Illahe estate was founded in 2001 by Lowell and Pauline Ford, whose son Ben joined the project in 2004 and is now head winemaker. Guided by a core ethos of sustainability, the vineyard is LIVE-certified, Salmon Safe and also participates in Oregon’s Deep Roots Coalition which encourages responsible water management. Their commitment to sustainability efforts is evident in their vineyard management - green pruning, rainwater collection, dry-farming, plant topping and leaf pulling are the norm and whatever work isn’t performed by human hands is aided by the presence of Doc and Bea, the two Percheron horses that pull the mechanical mower. This grüner veltliner (Illahe is one of Oregon’s original producers of this Austrian grape) features estate grown and dry farmed fruit that was left to soak on the skins and then fermented with native yeasts in acacia wood. It’s crisp. It’s hi-toned. It’s acidic and bright. Yellow florals excitedly flutter out of the glass, but are tethered to notes of savory umami that ground us back to earth. It’s an apothecary in liquid form; expect a white pepper-infused saline solution and a beeswax salve laced with dandelion flowers. Generous, bordering on opulent, pair with the crunch of freshly fried and richly fatty chicharron or grilled asparagus with slivers of parmesan. Certified sustainable, low-intervention/natural wine.