The Eyrie Vineyards
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Winery |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | David Lett |
| Headquarters | McMinnville , United States |
Area served | Willamette Valley AVA |
Key people | Jason Lett (president and head winemaker) |
| Products | Pinot noir, Pinot gris wines |
Eyrie Vineyards is a winery located in McMinnville, Oregon, managing 60 acres spread over five vineyards within the Dundee Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley. Established in 1965 by David Lett, who challenged his mentors at the University of California, Davis by planting Pinot noir grapes in Oregon, the winery was responsible for producing the first Pinot noir and the first Pinot gris in the United States, with its debut vintage released in 1970.
The 1975 Reserve Pinot Noir from Eyrie Vineyards earned global recognition by ranking among the top ten at the 1979 Wine Olympics. A subsequent competition hosted by Burgundy vintner Robert Drouhin at Maison Joseph Drouhin saw Eyrie's 1975 Reserve narrowly miss the top spot, finishing just after Drouhin's 1959 Chambolle-Musigny. This event played a key role in motivating Drouhin to invest in Oregon, leading to the creation of Domaine Drouhin Oregon.
David Lett, affectionately known as "Papa Pinot," promoted a restrained approach to Pinot noir production that prioritized harmony rather than deep color or heavy tannins—an approach that occasionally diverged from popular critic preferences. Following Lett's passing in 2008, his son Jason Lett took over as president and head winemaker.
The winery is situated within the Dundee Hills sub-American Viticultural Area of the larger Willamette Valley AVA. Additionally, McMinnville hosts the yearly International Pinot Noir Celebration each July on the campus of Linfield College.
References
- Footnotes