High Quality Grapes from High Quality Vineyards

"Good wine is made in the vineyard." Many would agree that this old adage continues to ring true. Quality wines are produced with quality fruit harvested from well-managed vineyard locations. At Freytag Cellars we consider it a privilege to source fruit from hardworking growers all over Oregon and Washington. We simply act as diligent stewards from grape to glass.

Springfield, Oregon - Willamette Valley

McKenzie Crest Vineyard, Walterville, Oregon

McKenzie Crest Vineyard, one of the first in Springfield to provide grapes for commercial wine production, was planted in 2015 by Dan, Chris and the crew. This vineyard site produces 100% Marechal Foch and has been the figurative blank "canvas" upon which Chris and Dan practiced viticulture and crafted their first wines. Because this vineyard thrives on the eastern side of the I-5 corridor, 15 minutes east of Springfield, it is protected from the coastal winds that bring cooler conditions to much of the Willamette Valley. As a result, these vines enjoy a slightly warmer climate where grapes fully ripen in late September or early October. The location and dry farming practices result in decadently rich fruit that yields deep colored, purple-to-black juice.

Forest Grove, Oregon - Willamette Valley

Purple Cow Vineyard, Forest Grove, Oregon

Forest Grove, Oregon hugs the northwestern edge of the Chehalem Mountains sub-AVA. All three important hillside soil types are represented: basaltic, ocean sedimentary and loess (blown lake bed sediment), the predominant soil on the northern face of the Chehalem Mountains. With such diversity of elevations and soils, this region offers wines of great complexity and intrigue. The grapes harvested from this area often produce wines with defined structure, offering notes of strawberries and cherries in cooler vintages and darker fruit in riper years. While many cooler climate varietals prevail here (Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay) some warmer pockets have been proven to ripen varietals such as Tempranillo, which generally requires a longer hang time.

Varietals Sourced: Marechal Foch, Muscat, and Tempranillo

Roseburg, Oregon - Umpqua Valley

Cooper Ridge Vineyard, Roseburg, Oregon

Roseburg rests in the beloved Umpqua Valley AVA. The Umpqua contains many microclimates due to the convergence of the Cascade and Coast mountain ranges and the Umpqua River. Given such a diverse range of climates, vineyards in the Umpqua can successfully grow both cool and warm varieties. Freytag Cellars produces wines from grapes planted in the warm microclimates with dry farming practices. The resulting wines are fruit forward with nuance. Umpqua Valley is where many on the Freytag Cellars crew first fell in love with wine and we count it a privilege to be able to produce wines from select vineyards.

Varietals Sourced: Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo

Boyd, Oregon - Columbia Valley

Bolton Family Vineyard, Boyd, Oregon

Boyd, Oregon is a small slice of heaven located approximately 15 minutes south of The Dalles. Vines planted in this picturesque location fall within the Columbia Valley AVA, a shared appellation between Oregon and Washington state borders. In this dry eastern region, conditions are optimal for planting a wide variety of grapes that produce rich wines. Exemplifying just how diverse this vineyard site is, you will find the cool climate favorite Pinot Noir, planted alongside a warm climate favorite, Merlot; with both varietals able to ripen and reach full maturity due to the long, warm days of the growing season. Truly a unique, perfect location for quality grape growing.

Varietals Sourced: Merlot

Wishram, Washington - Columbia Valley

Rockland Flats, Wishram, Washington

The highly esteemed Columbia Valley sees cold winters and long, dry growing seasons with low humidity. The warm days and cool nights of the area help retain the balance of acid and sugar levels in the grapes, which give Oregon and Washington wines their characteristic balance in flavors. The longer hang time allows the grapes more time to develop maturity in tannins, as well as other aroma and profile characteristics that will be brought out in the resulting wines. In Wishram this vineyard site rests upon the cliffs of Washington, overlooking the Columbia River with Oregon in view. The location is ideal for producing warm climate varietals such as Barbera, Syrah, and Primitivo (Zinfandel).

Varietals Sourced: Barbera and Syrah

The Dalles, Oregon - Columbia Valley

Bright Light Vineyard, The Dalles, Oregon

Wine grapes in The Dalles, Oregon, are unique for being grown on their own roots (not grafted) and thriving in a warm, transitional climate within the Columbia Gorge that allows for both cool-climate and warmer-varietal production. Freytag Cellars has enjoyed working with fruit at Bright Light Vineyard, built on the rocky slopes of the Chenoweth Hills. This site boasts south-east slopes that minimize disease and increase sunlight exposure. The vineyard offers tremendous phenolic ripening and always produces high quality wines. With these favorable factors, grapes are always able to achieve optimal ripeness for the style of wine produced at our winery.

Varietals Sourced: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec

Elkton, Oregon - Umpqua Valley

Secondo Figlio Vineyard, Elkton, Oregon

Elkton, Oregon is unique due to a distinct, cool, and wet maritime climate, making it the coolest/wettest region within the southern Umpqua Valley. Located just 33 miles from the Pacific, the area benefits from cooling fog and breezes allowing for the slow ripening of cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris among others. Vineyards are planted in a mix of residual clay, silt loam, and river terraces, often providing good water retention. These factors provide a climate is ideal for producing elegant wines with nuance and lovely aromatic expression. As a small AVA with less than 400 acres planted, the area is known for focused, artisanal, and sometimes experimental wines.

Varietals Sourced: Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Baco Noir.

Zillah, Washington - Columbia Valley

Diamondback Ridge Vineyard, Zillah, Washington

Grapes in Zillah, Washington thrive on a unique combination of 300+ days of sunshine, intense diurnal temperature shifts (hot days, cool nights), and arid, volcanic-influenced soils within the Yakima Valley AVA. This environment produces grapes with high acidity, bold flavors, and exceptional balance that brings distinct, complex, and high-quality character to the wines. Thanks to the warmer climate and favorable growing factors, grapes reach optimal ripeness with ease and are often some of the first grapes to arrive for production at Freytag Cellars.

Varietals Sourced: Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon