Willamette Valley Pinot Noir wines have been catching global attention, and for good reason. This is a wine you can enjoy year-round. What sets Sweet Cheeks Winery Pinot Noir apart is our aging process. While we still want to maintain the flavors and integrity of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, we age our Pinot Noirs for just a little longer - giving the wines more of a medium body. Our 2022 Estate Pinot Noir is aged for 17 months in French Oak: 65% new, 14% 2nd use, and 21% 3rd use. We cold-soaked the fruit for 4 days prior to fermentation to extract a depth of color and nuanced tannins. 

A Note from Winemaker, Leo Gabica
"One of my favorite times of the year is August. I arrive at the vineyard in the early (and cooler) morning hours and walk up and down the vines. Each part of our vineyard tells a different story, and it's my job to piece together the chapters to deliver a wine that captivates you. The first block planted on our estate was in 1979 which we call our Grandpa Block. If you know Oregon wine history, you will know this is roughly five to ten years after our Willamette Valley wine pioneers started planting. At the time, we were planting vines based on recommendations of UC Davis - and they were still skeptical the Willamette Valley could successfully grow grapes. Our Grandpa Block is a Swiss clone called Mariafeld 23. This clone of Pinot Noir is resilient and produces dark colors and bright, fruity flavors with high acidity. If you are familiar with our wines, you will know our Wild Child Block. Don't tell anyone, but this is one of my absolute favorite blocks within our vineyard. The Swiss Wädenswil clone, our Wild Child Block of Pinot Noir, brings more weight to the wine and showcases a spirit of spice and earthy characteristics. Last, but certainly not least, I rounded out the blend with our Pinot Noir from our Boss' Block. This is the Dijon 777 clone - known for complex aromas and robust flavors. We renamed this block after we lost our Founder, Dan Smith, who I called Boss Man. This is the block you can see from the patio of our tasting room. It surrounds the oak tree where Dan stood and envisioned our winery. The 2022 vintage was off to a frightening start with a late frost, but our vines still produced high-quality fruit. This vintage is something to be savored. With the low yields, I recommend stocking up on this vintage to ensure you can enjoy it for years. Cheers." 

Start your Story
Enjoy our 2022 Estate Pinot Noir every season: tailgating with blue cheese burgers, warming up by a fire with stuffed mushrooms, celebrating spring with grilled pork chops, or toast to summer with cedar plank salmon. This wine will transport you straight to the Willamette Valley with one sip.