Adelsheim Acquires Bryan Creek

On May 12, Adelsheim Vineyard announced its acquisition of a 59-acre property in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, which includes the 20-acre Bryan Creek Vineyard.

“First planted by us in 1989, Bryan Creek has long been part of the Adelsheim Vineyard estate vineyard portfolio,” said president and co-founder David Adelsheim. “However, the land underneath the grapes has always been owned by our neighbors, Jess and Joy Howell.  We had a 30-year lease that allowed us to plant and manage a vineyard on 20 acres.”

Following Jess Howell’s passing three years ago, his wife and their children made the decision to put the property up for sale this spring.

“This is an incredibly important acquisition for us,” says winemaker Dave Paige. “The wines produced from this cool site have distinct mineral flavors that are unique in our estate vineyard portfolio.  It has rich, deep volcanic soils that provide moisture throughout the growing season, and an excellent southern slope.”

Fruit from Bryan Creek Vineyard contributes to several wines, including Adelsheim Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Elizabeth’s Reserve Pinot Noir, and the single-vineyard Bryan Creek Pinot Noir.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to acquire the ownership of this site,” Adelsheim said. “This will allow us to upgrade the current plantings and add as much as an additional 15 acres of new vineyards. In this period of major vineyard acquisition by some very large wineries, it is a very important step for us to have the security of owning one of our best estate sites.”