Holmes Gap Vineyard

 

Owner Jack LaRue delivers the first grapes ever from his vineyard

The first vintage of Holmes Gap Vineyard was 2008, and we purchased 1/2 of their pinot noir at that time. Holmes Gap is owned by Jack and Cheri LaRue. It is in the Willamette Valley AVA, just outside of the Eola-Amity Hills. This site is among a group of hills exposed to the Van Duzer corridor, a wind corridor that channels a cool breeze from the coast to the Willamette Valley. Elevation of the vineyard extends up to 300'. As at several of the other vineyards we source grapes from, we get grapes that extend up to the top of the vineyard.

The clones here are pommard. It's a pastoral site that is farmed by Jack. Jack, not coincidentally, is the father-in-law of the very talented woman (Andrea) who designed our labels for us. She and her husband Michael have a "Pig n Pie" party every August, and it is here, alongside the Yamhill River, that we first met Jack and Sherry.

The name Holmes Gap comes from a farmer from the area. Years ago, "Holmes Gap" was the route between Salem and Portland. The soil here is Helvetia, but there is also Chehulpum and Woodburn. Helvetia is a sedimentary soil.

As of late 2008, we expect that you will find the grapes from Holmes Gap in our 2008 Willamette Valley pinot noir.