Patton Valley Vineyard
One of the joys of being the WineTrail guy is discovering a winery that you didn’t have on your radar. Before venturing out to wine country, I invest hours in planning the trip and getting to know each winery intimately in advance — well at least as far as the Internet allows me. But as often happens, I will stumble on a winery that I didn’t know existed or that had made the conversion from “by appointment only” to now open to the public.
Such was my first-time experience with Patton Valley Vineyard.
There I was bebopping down Highway 47 near Gaston, intent on the next winery on my list, when the blue sign jumped out on the side of the road announcing Patton Valley Vineyard. Going from 60 mph to 10 mph and executing a hard right would earn my mother’s admonishment, but this becomes standard practice on the WineTrails of Oregon.
The owners of 72-acre Patton Valley Vineyard, Dave Chen and Monte Pitt, were told that they couldn’t grow good pinot noir west of Highway 47, but they were out to prove people wrong. With a score of 94 from Wine Spectator for their Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Lorna-Marie Cuvée 2005, evidently they’ve succeeded. Dave and Monte appreciate that it all begins in the vineyard and from the beginning, these two Chicago transplants (they met in business school in the early 1980s) have strived to make pinot noir that is true to the vineyard’s unique personality. To this end, they have the winemaking expertise of Jerry Murray. Using the finest French oak, aging on the lees, using indigenous yeast, and producing nonfiltered wines are just some of the techniques Jerry implements to produce wines of distinction.
As stewards of the land, the Chens and the Pitts rely on sustainable and organic techniques. Patton Valley Vineyard is LIVE certified for its low-input viticultural and enological practices. For example, rather than using traditional methods to reduce the rodent population, they have installed owl boxes to keep the rodent population in check.
While at the tasting room, take time to get the camera from the car. The views from the bluff are nothing short of spectacular. On a clear day, you can see Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens to the east. Below you is Highway 47 snaking through the rich agricultural land that defines the Willamette Valley. Great views and wonderful wine blend to make a wonderful experience.
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Order the book!
Patton Valley Vineyard was featured in WineTrails of Oregon as part of the Forest Grove – Gaston WineTrail on page !
WineTrail: Forest Grove – Gaston WineTrail
Owner: Monte Pitt and Dave Chen
Winemaker: Jerry Murray
Opened: 1999
Tasting Room: Open to the public
Amenities: Picnic, Tasting Room, Wine Club
Where To Buy: Winery
Phone: 503-985-3445 Fax: 503-985-0425
Website: www.pattonvalley.com
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Patton Valley Vineyard
Winery
9449 SW Old Hwy 47, Gaston, OR 97119 -123.195869 45.455628Hours: Thursday thru Sunday 11- 5
Directions: From Portland take Hwy 26 West, toward Beaverton. After approximately 18 miles, exit to Hwy 6, Tillamook (a left exit). Follow 6 for about one mile, and exit at Hwy 47, Banks/Forest Grove. Go south (right) on 47, through Forest Grove. Approximately 6 miles south of Forest Grove, look for the Patton Valley/Cherry Grove sign and turn right at the sign. Travel about .3 miles and bear right at the sharp right-hand turn (Old Hwy 47; follow the sign to Hagg Lake). Look for Patton Valley Vineyard sign on the left side of the road. Turn left into the driveway and follow it .5 miles up the hill to the vineyard. From McMinnville, take 99W north. Turn left at the Hwy 47 junction just outside of McMinnville. Stay on 47 through Carlton and Yamhill, proceeding north to Gaston. Once through Gaston, 1 mile north of town is a left-hand turn marked with a yellow traffic control sign (no street sign posted). Turn left, proceed .3 miles and bear right at the sharp right-hand turn (Old Hwy 47; follow the sign to Hagg Lake). After about 1,000 feet, look for Patton Valley Vineyard sign on the left side of the road. Turn left into the driveway and follow it .5 miles up the hill to the vineyard.
