Dec 30, 2022
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Amity Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Ryan Harms |
| Web site | www.amityvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Myron Redford became interested in wine at a young age working at Washington's Associated Vintners (now Columbia Winery). He bought a small vineyard in Amity, Oregon in 1974 and had his first vintage in 1976. He released a Beaujolais Nouveau-style Pinot Noir in 1977. He was part of the first wave of pioneering vintners in Oregon's Willamette Valley which included David Adelsheim, Dick Erath, David Lett and Dick Ponzi, and was one of the organizers of the first International Pinot Noir Celebration. Redford introduced a Gamay Noir varietal-designated wine to Oregon in 1988 and debuted sulfite free wine from organically grown grapes in 1991. He also has been a proponent of Pinot Blanc over Chardonnay in Oregon.
Redford and Viki Metle met in 1980 when Wetle visited the winery to participate in a harvest party. Redford's mother invited her to stay for dinner and she never left. The harvest party has remained an annual tradition since 1978 and centers on a small block of estate Riesling.
Redford farmed 15 acres of vineyards and had contracts with many family growers in the Willamette Valley. He adhered to organic practices in his vineyard and was a respected veteran vintner who oversaw a 10,000 case production of 17 wines including Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Riesling. The Pinot Noirs included an Amity Cuvée, Willamette Valley, "Eco" Pinot Noir, Estate, Winemaker's Reserve and a few single-vineyard offerings.
Darcy Pendergrass, who was Redford's assistant at Amity since 2001, became the winemaker in 2008 with Redford in a senior consulting position. As Redford's protege, Pendergrass upheld his winemaking traditions including minimal manipulation and limited oak aging.
Redford was an advocate of little or no new oak in vinifying Pinot Noir and his early Pinot Noirs were somewhat austere and acidic. In recent years, he has embraced more modern tastes and his Pinot Noirs show more extraction, ripeness and less acidity. His white wines have always been lauded for their purity and vibrancy.
In 2014, Amity Vineyards transitioned ownership from the founders to Ryan Harms, the owner of Union Wine Company. New packaging gives a nod to the pioneering spirit of the founders while speaking to the modern folk culture of today. The creation of sleeping decks scattered throughout the property is part of the new owner's attempt to create unique ways for the modern nomad to connect to Amity Vineyards. The new owner is focusing on introducing the new Amity Vineyards wines to more consumers and expanding distribution. A sparkling wine program was launched with the first release planned for 2017.
Amity Vineyards is one of the few Oregon wineries to have a tasting room open year round. The wines are available on the website as well. 18150 Amity Vineyards Rd, Amity, OR (Yamhill County). 503-835-2362.
Articles About Amity Vineyards
Prince’s Excellent Adventure at WOPN (6.56 3/23/2008)
Rece$$ion Bumpers (7.15 3/26/2009)
Twenty-Second Annual International Pinot Noir Celebration (7.2 9/15/2008)
Willamette Valley’s 50th Anniversary: A New Look at the Old Guard (10.18 9/29/2015)
Reviewed Wines
2013 Amity Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc
13.0% alc., pH 3.20, TA 0.68, RS dry, 181
cases, $22, screwcap. Amity was one of the first wineries to plant Pinot Blanc in the Willamette Valley
when the estate vineyard was grafted over to Pinot Blanc from Chardonnay. No oak treatment.
·
Very
light golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas and flavors of white peach, pear, honey, lemon and
grapefruit in a bright, clean style with tight, mouthwatering, citric acidity on the finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed September 29, 2015
ARTICLE »
2010 Amity Vineyards Estate Eola-Amity Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.8% alc., pH 3.58, TA 0.56,
145 cases, $40. Aged in 33% new French oak barrels.
·
Very light garnet color in the glass. Shy aromas of red
fruits, spice and sandalwood. Light weight cherry and cranberry flavors that are slightly green (under ripe) with
an underpinning of tarry oak. Gossamer tannins add silkiness and bright acidity brings vim to the wine. No
change with extended time in the glass. Decent.
Reviewed February 27, 2013
ARTICLE »
2007 Amity Vineyards Amity Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13%, $20.
From 6 dry-farmed vineyards in the northern Willamette Valley including clones
Dijon 115, Wädenswil, Pommard and Upright. Myron Redford and Darcy
Pendergrass are the winemakers.
·
On the nose there are strawberries, cherries,
juicy fruit gum and a touch of cardamon spice. Light-weighted and nicely spiced
red fruits with some cedar and grapefruit zest flavors, soft tannins and zingy
acidity.
Reviewed March 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Amity Vineyards Sunnyside Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.,
203 cases, $40.The Sunnyside Vineyard was planted in 1970 and is LIVE certified. The
owners are Tom and Lucy Wisniewski. Fruit from this vineyard been a part of the reserve
Pinot Noir at Amity in the past. Aged 10 months in oak.
·
Beautifully weighted and composed
with generous flavors of fresh berries including cranberry, and cherries. Floral and fruity in
the nose and silky in the mouth. Impeccable balance, and a perfect companion to grilled
lamb.
Reviewed September 15, 2008
ARTICLE »
1999 Amity Dijon 115 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
More generous fruit and structure with a
little port aroma showing up. Again, dry and rustic.
Reviewed March 23, 2008
ARTICLE »
1999 Amity Upright Clone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
From older clones with upright
growth pattern - Gamay Beaujolais planted in 1970, Ponzi clone (?Martini) planted in
1974.
·
Old wine patina. Cigar box and wet leaves on the nose. A rustic wine with dwindling
fruit and plenty of acidity.
Reviewed March 23, 2008
ARTICLE »
2013 Amity Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc
13.0% alc., pH 3.20, TA 0.68, RS dry, 181 cases, $22, screwcap. Amity was one of the first wineries to plant Pinot Blanc in the Willamette Valley when the estate vineyard was grafted over to Pinot Blanc from Chardonnay. No oak treatment. · Very light golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas and flavors of white peach, pear, honey, lemon and grapefruit in a bright, clean style with tight, mouthwatering, citric acidity on the finish. Score: 89. Reviewed September 29, 2015 ARTICLE »
2010 Amity Vineyards Estate Eola-Amity Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.8% alc., pH 3.58, TA 0.56, 145 cases, $40. Aged in 33% new French oak barrels. · Very light garnet color in the glass. Shy aromas of red fruits, spice and sandalwood. Light weight cherry and cranberry flavors that are slightly green (under ripe) with an underpinning of tarry oak. Gossamer tannins add silkiness and bright acidity brings vim to the wine. No change with extended time in the glass. Decent. Reviewed February 27, 2013 ARTICLE »
2007 Amity Vineyards Amity Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13%, $20. From 6 dry-farmed vineyards in the northern Willamette Valley including clones Dijon 115, Wädenswil, Pommard and Upright. Myron Redford and Darcy Pendergrass are the winemakers. · On the nose there are strawberries, cherries, juicy fruit gum and a touch of cardamon spice. Light-weighted and nicely spiced red fruits with some cedar and grapefruit zest flavors, soft tannins and zingy acidity. Reviewed March 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Amity Vineyards Sunnyside Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 203 cases, $40.The Sunnyside Vineyard was planted in 1970 and is LIVE certified. The owners are Tom and Lucy Wisniewski. Fruit from this vineyard been a part of the reserve Pinot Noir at Amity in the past. Aged 10 months in oak. · Beautifully weighted and composed with generous flavors of fresh berries including cranberry, and cherries. Floral and fruity in the nose and silky in the mouth. Impeccable balance, and a perfect companion to grilled lamb. Reviewed September 15, 2008 ARTICLE »
1999 Amity Dijon 115 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
More generous fruit and structure with a little port aroma showing up. Again, dry and rustic. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »
1999 Amity Upright Clone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
From older clones with upright growth pattern - Gamay Beaujolais planted in 1970, Ponzi clone (?Martini) planted in 1974. · Old wine patina. Cigar box and wet leaves on the nose. A rustic wine with dwindling fruit and plenty of acidity. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »