Tualatin Hills ( ) is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) due west of Portland and just east from the Oregon Coast Range within portions of Multnomah and Washington Counties located entirely within the northernmost Willamette Valley landform in and around the towns of Gaston, Forest Grove, Sherwood and Cornelius. It was established as the nation's 247th, the state's 20th and the valley's tenth wine appellation on June 3, 2020 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Rudolf Marchesi, president of Montinore Estate, Alfredo Apolloni, owner and winemaker of Apolloni Vineyards, and Mike Kuenz, general manager of David Hill Vineyard and Winery, on behalf of themselves and other local grape growers and vintners, proposing the viticultural area named "Tualatin Hills." The area lies in the upland hills of the Tualatin River watershed and encompasses elevations between . To the south and southeast are the Chehalem Mountains with elevations of over and considered to be a separate, distinct landform from the uplands within the Tualatin Hills. The region extends over approximately and, at the outset, contained 21 wineries with 33 commercially-producing vineyards cultivating approximately . The distinguishing features of Tualatin Hills are its soils, elevation, and climate.
Terroir
The Willamette Valley is full of microclimates, varying aspects and more that have a profound impact on the wines grown there. Tualatin Hills is partially adjacent at its southern end to Laurelwood District AVA which was established with Tualatin Hills. The two AVAs are both noted for the Laurelwood soils consisting of exceptionally fine loess deposited over ancient basalt. The silt-sized sediment was formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust produced by the grinding down of basaltic and other volcanic rocks by glaciers during the last Ice Age. However, Tualatin Hills also contains Kinton and Cornelius soils mixed with the Laurelwood soil while its adjacent AVA is primarily a concentration of its namesake soil. The USDA plant hardiness zones are 8a and 8b.
Wine Industry The area lies in the heart of Oregon's Pinot Noir producing zone. It is home to some of the oldest vineyards in Oregon, including David Hill, Ponzi and Cooper Mountain. The AVA petition filed at the TTB in 2015 was led by Alfredo Apolloni of Apolloni Vineyards, Rudy Marchesi of Montinore Estate and Mike Kuenz of David Hill Vineyard and Winery.
References
External links Tualatin Hills AVA TTB AVA Map