Soil & Soul
A Soil Study
Perhaps the most elemental truth about our craft is the fact that these wines are the product of a single ingredient. Grapes farmed without herbicides or pesticides and made without fining or filtration comprise the contents of every single bottle. In this regard, farming and understanding that single ingredient is the most important aspect of our process.
A glimpse of spring at our organically-farmed Iron Filbert Estate Vineyard.
Knowing the geology of our vineyards is how we define the origin of our wines. Vines are long-lived plants whose roots grow deep, surpassing the topsoil and burying themselves in the labyrinth of bedrock that lies beneath. The untouched sediment becomes the food for these vines, which will express the terroir as they push those nutrients into their fruit. Consider the difference between a vine planted on a rugged hillside where roots connect with rocks mere inches beneath the ground compared to a vine whose roots are situated in several feet of clay that hold more water. The character of each wine originates underground!
A collection of rocks from both estate vineyards, including crystalline quartz.
At Domaine Roy & fils, our soil story begins with the duality between our Iron Filbert Vineyard and Quartz Acorn Vineyard. These vineyards are situated only about 30 minutes from each other, but their geology is incredibly different. From a desire to honor the Oregon landscape, our craftmanship is intentionally minimalist so that these unique characteristics will be given a voice in the resulting wine.
Our Winemaker, Jared Etzel, walking in our Iron Filbert Vineyard in the Dundee Hills after it was planted.
Iron Filbert Vineyard is located on the south-facing hillside of Dundee. Here we are protected from coastal weather by the mountain ranges east and west of us. With total access to the southern sun, these vines dig deep through Jory soils and into Columbia River Basalt. These rocks have been here for more than 14 million years as a product of ancient eruptions from the Blue Mountains. Time and weather have eroded the rocks, churning out this rich, red clay that is high in acidity and rich in iron, hence the name of our vineyard. This soil gives us wines with elegant red fruit, earthy, truffle-like flavors, and a silky texture.
An oak tree sitting at the top of our Quartz Acorn Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton.
Meanwhile, to the west, our Quartz Acorn Vineyard is situated in the Yamhill Carlton AVA, where the soils are millions of years older than the surrounding areas. This site is characterized by coarse sedimentary soils formed between 40 and 50 million years ago, making it some of the oldest dirt in the Willamette Valley. These soils are made up of ancient, eroded rocks that were once on the ocean floor!
This is a high-stress site, with shallow topsoil forcing the roots to grow deep to find water. The yields are low, and the grapes develop thick skins with very concentrated flavor. The resulting Quartz Acorn Vineyard wines have a deep purple hue, structured tannins, and higher acidity. These are the rustic, earthen side of our portfolio.
It is our duty and honor to produce wines that are true to the land where they are grown. As farmers first, we understand our role as stewards of this great region. Every sip of Domaine Roy & fils wine is a reminder to us about this story of soil and soul.