A view from the top of our vineyard towards the windmill.
A view from the top of our vineyard towards the windmill.
Looking down through the vineyard to the winery building below.
Looking down through the vineyard to the winery building below.
Pinot gris grapes ripen on the vine.
Pinot gris grapes ripen on the vine.
Sunshine highlights clusters of Chardonnay grapes on the vine.
Sunshine highlights clusters of Chardonnay grapes on the vine.
Purple clusters ripen on the vine.
Purple clusters ripen on the vine.
Sequoia Grove block of Pinot Noir leads into the Boot block in the distance.
Sequoia Grove block of Pinot Noir leads into the Boot block in the distance.

Our Estate

Established in 1983, Yamhill Valley Vineyards is the oldest winery in the McMinnville AVA.

Denis Burger and Elaine McCall were looking for a piece of property plant to grapes on and learn about winegrowing from the ground up.  On a wet, August weekend they opened up the classified section of the newspaper and spotted an ad that read “Land For Sale, Good For Grapes,” and they were off.  The rain continued all the way until they turned off Highway 18 onto Oldsville Road.  As they turned the corner approaching the property, a rainbow appeared over the hillside in front of them.  The rain stopped.  They had arrived.  The site was not where they had been looking and was much larger than what was needed for their original plan, but as they explored their new patch of Yamhill County, they fell in love with the views, the hillsides, the little stream with its wildflowers on its bank that ran across the track, and they began making plans for a vineyard.

Slowly they acquired adjacent parcels of land, planting vineyards, and planning for a winery.  Today we make 100% estate grown wines from our 150-acre vineyard.  Located in the rolling foothills of the Coast range mountains, we sit one hour southwest of Portland in the heart of the Willamette Valley.  Our estate ranges from 200 feet to 600 feet in elevation, spanning two dominant soil types: volcanic and marine sedimentary.  We are a cool climate growing region, with 2300-2500 degree days on average and 35 inches of annual rainfall.  We are located within the Van Duzer Corridor, a wind effect that brings in cool, marine air in the evenings and serves multiple purposes: winds to keep the canopy and tight clusters of grapes dry, cooling effect for a strong diurnal temperature shift that maintain acidity in the fruit, and thickening of the grapes’ skins in response to the wind, increasing the skin to juice ratio.  Within our site, we have a diversity of clones, trellis styles, slopes, and vine ages, all providing complexity for the winemaker. From our beginning we have been stubbornly dedicated to the pursuit of a character that is distinctively Oregon and distinctively Yamhill Valley. Our goal is to bring forth from this unusual and exciting property the finest possible expression of its intensity, charm and uniqueness.

Pinot Noir lies at the heart of our winemaking, with Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Rosé rounding out the production. Our Tasting Room is open year-round for wine tasting and charcuterie with vineyard views, relaxing under the oak trees on the back deck, and enjoying the riches of the estate.  More information here.

 

Who We Are:

Denis Burger, Founder

Elaine McCall, Founder

David Hinrichs, Founder

Greg Burger, Vice President and National Sales Manager

Carlos Escobar, Vineyard Manager

Ariel Eberle, Head Winemaker

Jenny Burger, President and General Manager

Debbie Chapman, Tasting Room and Wine Club Manager

Monica Macias, Lead Tasting Room Associate

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Rosmarino Winemaker's Dinner

Jun 9, 2023

We are thrilled to be back at Rosmarino Osteria Italiana in Newberg for their incredible 5-course winemaker dinner!  Join Dario Pisoni of Rosmarino and Head Winemaker, Ariel Eberle, on a culinary ... read  more

We are thrilled to be back at Rosmarino Osteria Italiana in Newberg for their incredible 5-course winemaker dinner!  Join Dario Pisoni of Rosmarino and Head Winemaker, Ariel Eberle, on a culinary adventure pairing Yamhill Valley Vineyards wines with incredible Italian fare, storytelling, and comraderie.  Two seatings are available: 5pm - 7pm and 7:30pm - 9:30pm. For more ...

Founder's Fest

Jun 10, 2023

We might be over the hill but we still know how to party! read  more

We might be over the hill but we still know how to party!

Father's Day Wine and Cheese Pairing

Jun 17, 2023 - Jun 18, 2023

Nothing is quite as cheesy as a dad joke, but we'll do our best with a Father's Day wine and cheese pairing! Enjoy a special flight of five wines each paired with a local cheese from Briar Rose ... read  more

Nothing is quite as cheesy as a dad joke, but we'll do our best with a Father's Day wine and cheese pairing! Enjoy a special flight of five wines each paired with a local cheese from Briar Rose Creamery - $30 per person.    Please call or email to make your reservation: 503-843-3100 / debbie@yamhill.com    

Pinot Paddle 2023

Jun 24, 2023

Experience a weekend of world-class wines all from the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s largest wine region. While Pinot Noir is the Valley’s leading varietal, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and ... read  more

Experience a weekend of world-class wines all from the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s largest wine region. While Pinot Noir is the Valley’s leading varietal, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and some 75 other varietals are also worthy of attention. Location is the key ingredient with wine, which is also true when it comes to selecting your paddling route and camping spot. We’ve combined ...
Wallace Marine Park
Wallace Marine Park

Pre IPNC Winemaker Dinner

Jul 27, 2023

We are kicking off the big weekend with a special winemaker dinner! read  more

We are kicking off the big weekend with a special winemaker dinner!

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