 The term “terroir” is of French origin meaning “soil” as used in the phrase gout de terroir ("taste of the soil") to refer to the earthy flavor of some wines. However, terroir also has a much deeper, less literal meaning. When French wine producers use the term terroir, it not only includes reference to the type of soil (chalky, claylike, gravelly, sandy), but it also refers to virtually all other geographic factors that might influence the quality of the finished wine such as elevation, position relative to the sun, slope, and water drainage. Put another way, terroir refers to the sum of the influences of the natural environment on the growing of grapes and the production of wine. The grapes for Red Lily Tempranillo come from three different sources reflecting similar, yet distinct types of terroir. In addition to our estate vineyards, we purchase grapes from Ellis Vineyards and Pheasant Hill Vineyards. The growers involved are meticulous caretakers who strive for perfection in the vineyard and we feel grateful for their contribution to our project. Red Lily Estate Vineyards We own a total of 35 acres located in the Applegate Valley, approximately 20 miles west of Medford, Oregon. The vineyard site lies within the Applegate Appellation, which is surrounded by the larger Rogue Valley Appellation. The vineyard was initially planted with two acres of tempranillo (Clone 1 and Duero) in 2004. The vineyard site has a predominantly western aspect on a 12% average slope that rises to an elevation of 1630 feet. This slope, combined with a predominantly Ruch gravelly silt loam soil composition, affords good drainage and makes for an excellent vineyard site. We recently purchased a new property in the heart of the Applegate Valley which will be our permanent home. In fact, we’ve already begun preparations to plant a 4-acre vineyard on the site which will likely come into production in 2010. We’re very excited about the potential of this new property, though we remain committed to a limited production philosophy. Ellis Vineyards We have two acres of tempranillo under contract with Ellis Vineyards, which is located outside Talent, Oregon. The vineyard has a slight northeastern exposure with a 3% average slope at an elevation of 1650 feet. The soil is composed of Ruch cobbly sandy loam. The tempranillo vines (Clone 1) were planted in 2001 and this was the principal source of grapes for our 2003, 2004 and 2005 vintages. These are some of the oldest tempranillo plantings in the Rogue Valley Appellation and will continue to be a key component of Red Lily Tempranillo. Pheasant Hill Vineyards We have one acre of tempranillo grapes under contract with Pheasant Hill Vineyards, which was founded in 1990 and is one of the older established vineyards in the area. The vineyard is situated on one of the warmer sites in the area, just outside Talent, Oregon. The vineyard has excellent western exposure, with a soil composed primarily of Darrow clay loam. The tempranillo vines, Clone 1 and Duero, were planted in 2003, and the first harvest from this acreage was used in our 2005 vintage. |
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