Pints and Pinots: A Toast to Oregon Geology!
 Photo: Scott Burns The Jory Soil, with its distinctive deep red color, formed from the weathering of basalt flows (Window 3) in the Willamette Valley. It is just one of many types of excellent Oregon soils. No matter where you live in Oregon, more than 150 million years of ancient and ongoing geological processes impact our lives and help define us as Oregonians. So, raise a glass to the geology that brought Oregon’s landscape together over the past 150 million years, defined the state for the past 150 years, and will influence Oregonians far beyond the next 150 years. Cheers! Please enjoy Oregon’s geology responsibly!
European winemakers and brewers have long recognized that wines and beers from different regions naturally taste different. The term “terroir” (tare-WAHR) refers to the interplay between a region’s geology, soils, and climate and their influence on the distinctive flavors of its wines. The final taste of a wine is a combination of the region’s terroir and the techniques used by the grape grower and wine maker. The geology, soils, and climate of the state are not only good for wine growing, but are some of the best in the nation for growing hops, which provide beer’s bitterness.
In this window learn how the Willamette Valley’s geologic history and climate make it a perfect place for growing grapes and hops. The unique geologic history of different parts of the state contribute to different grapes and different wines throughout the state.
Digging Deeper: For more information, visit these websites:
Geology of Vineyards in the Willamette Valley, Oregon: http://cmug.com/chintimp/Willamette.vineyards.htm
Oregon Department of Agriculture:
Oregon Wine Board: http://www.oregonwine.org/Home/
Oregon Hop Commission:
Oregon Brewers Guild
Oregon State University Viticulture and Enology Program: |
