Dundee Hills is Oregon’s newest AVA and Sokol Blosser’s wines are among the first to bear the designation. The Dundee Hills are a unique area in the northern Willamette Valley, which itself is widely recognized as the heart of Oregon wine country. The valley spans approximately 30 miles with less than 7,000 acres planted to vines.

The climate is among the coolest in the state with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers that are influenced by marine air from the Pacific Ocean. The Cascade Mountains located between the ocean and valley act as a rain shadow to minimize rainfall as it moves inland toward the valley.

The Dundee Hills area, known for its Jory clay-loam soils, is recognized as a premier Pinot Noir growing area. The soil is volcanic and full of broken basalt that drains well. It derives its characteristic red color from high iron levels. Not surprisingly, it was in Dundee that Robert Drouhin and his venerable winemaking family established a U.S. Winery--right next door to Sokol Blosser.