A Journey Through Our Vineyards

Dundee Hills AVA | 124 Acres Planted | Founded in 1972 | Red Jory Soil | 630′ – 1000′ elevation

Argyle’s foundation vineyard source since 1987 is the 124-acre Knudsen Vineyard, located in the heart of the Dundee Hills AVA. Pioneering owner Cal Knudsen planted almost half the acreage in the early 70’s, giving the Dundee Hills considerable mass. A leader in quality innovation for the entire region, Cal was at the forefront of significant vineyard improvements in irrigation, higher vine densities, clonal selection, and conversion from own-rooted to root-stocked vines.

At the higher elevation of 700+ feet, the latest-ripening Pinot Noir makes one of our best – Spirithouse Pinot Noir. Argyle’s finest sparkling fruit is also grown in the higher elevations of Knudsen Vineyard. We derive two vineyard-designated Sparkling Wines, Knudsen Vineyard Brut and Knudsen Vineyard Blanc de Blancs, from this great vineyard!

Eola-Amity Hills AVA | 113 Acres Planted | Founded in 1996 | Jory, Nekia, Ritner and Woodburn Soils | 200′ – 400′ elevation

Do great views ensure great wines? At Lone Star Vineyard the vines are treated to a sweeping view of the Cascades, from Mt. Rainier in the north to the Three Sisters to the south. While the view is stunning, this low-elevation, warm site is a magnet for the two forces crucial for ripening grapes: light and heat. Lone Star is our warmest, sunniest vineyard site in a region not known for either…and in Oregon, the warmest sites are the best Pinot Noir sites. Lone Star catches the day’s first rays of sun and the rocky soils retain heat at night.

Since the 1999 vintage, Lone Star has served as the backbone for our biggest, boldest Pinot – the Nuthouse Pinot Noir. Lone Star Pinot is characterized by big, intense black fruit flavors supported by a firm tannic structure, suggesting wines that will age very well. In Spring 2005, we released our first vintage of Lone Star grown Riesling (which, incidentally, is the new world’s first high-density Riesling on devigorated root stocks!)

Eola-Amity Hills AVA | 137 Acres Planted | Founded in 2008 | Red Jory Soil | 700′ – 800′ elevation

Purchased in 2008, this is now Argyle’s largest vineyard, with 130+ acres planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Spirit Hill sits on top of the Eola-Amity Hills and is shaped like an open bowl, with aspects in every direction. This elevation, in combination with Van Duzer Corridor’s gusty winds has made Spirit Hill Vineyard a very cool climate growing site.

Located south and up slope from Lone Star Vineyard, a great future of distinctive wines awaits Argyle from this impressive site. The Spirit Hill Vineyard will draw on Argyle’s experience in higher elevation fine wine grape growing. In the northwest corner of the vineyard, tucked away in the trees, is an old pioneer cemetery, which has inspired the vineyard’s ghostly name.

Willamette Valley AVA (Polk County) | 138 acres | Founded in 2015 | Bellpine Soil | 320′ – 580′ elevation

In 2015, Argyle began a partnership with Atlas Vineyard Management to develop a new 210-acre property in the Willamette Valley. Located at elevations of 320′ – 580′, with a predominately western exposure, Giving Tree is a gently sloping site that features well-drained Bellpine marine sedimentary soils. The first phase of planting at Giving Tree was completed in 2015 with the establishment of 58 acres of Pinot Noir and six acres of Chardonnay. A second phase of planting in 2019 which included an additional 52 acres of Pinot Noir and 19 acres of Chardonnay, and two acres of Gamay Noir.

Located just three miles from the famed Freedom Hill Vineyard in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range, Giving Tree Vineyard is a relatively cool site, with a climate shaped by winds that blow regularly, cooling the vines, lengthening the growing season, and helping the fruit retain excellent acidity resulting in wines that are built for ageability—an underlying mission of all Argyle winemaking.

As a testament to the values shared by Argyle and Atlas Vineyard Management, and their mutual dedication to sustainable farming practices, the vineyard was named Giving Tree Vineyard after Shel Silverstein’s classic book about lasting multigenerational friendships and the joys of giving. As a part of this philosophy, Giving Tree Vineyard is LIVE Certified.