Winemaking, the Argyle Way
Talk about winemaking and you’ll hear a lot about terroir, the all-important connection between the land and the wine. Here, in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, we believe this concept goes even deeper. Here there’s a community of winemaking, a shared culture that is special and unique. Our neighbors are our friends and collaborators. We learn from each other. We support each other. We challenge each other. Because that’s what gets us closer to the goal… And the goal is, always, to make great wine.
Sparkling First
With a focus on longevity and quality, Argyle’s sparkling wines are designed to age gracefully, gaining complexity over time. Our Tirage Library, housing vintages dating back to our first year, is a testament to this commitment. This dedication has earned Argyle the distinction of producing the highest-rated sparkling wines outside of Champagne, consistently showcasing the unique character and quality of our cool-climate terroir.
Pinot Perfection
Argyle Winery has spent over 30 years perfecting the art of Pinot Noir, crafting wines that stand proudly on the world stage. Our approach blends Old World techniques with cutting-edge viticulture, resulting in distinct house styles. Our Grower First philosophy allows us to adapt with nature, ensuring that each vintage captures the true essence of our terroir.
Riesling Refined
Riesling has been central to Argyle Winery since our founding, with a focus on crafting age-worthy wines that showcase the complexity of this versatile varietal. After years of research and innovation, we’ve honed our techniques to produce three distinct styles: Spirithouse (barrel-fermented and textural), Nuthouse (fruit-forward with balanced acidity and a touch of sweetness), and Minus Five (an intense, sweet Riesling made from flash-frozen grapes).
Continuing in the stylistic tradition to which Argyle has remained true for decades, Winemaker Nate Klostermann has been recognized for making graceful and complex sparkling wines, along with vibrant and impeccably balanced Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Rieslings.
Nate and the winemaking team work in extremely small lots to preserve the nuance and complexity of Argyle’s estate fruit. Nate’s focus on innovation includes doing more skin soaking to tease out the character and spice of Argyle’s Rieslings, and experimenting with small amounts of whole clusters to accentuate the depth and nuance of the winery’s Pinot Noirs. Additional areas of experimentation include harvesting at various ripeness levels to enhance the cool-climate energy and layered complexity of the wines, as well as fine-tuning the dosage program to create evermore dynamic and terroir-driven sparkling wines.
Perhaps the greatest area of innovation and experimentation at Argyle can be found in the winery’s renowned Extended Tirage program, which has set the standard for New World sparkling wine, earning the highest scores for any sparkling wines made outside of Champagne.