By Becky Garrison | July 8, 2025
“Oregon’s premium sparkling wines are made in the traditional method, also known as méthode traditionnelle or méthode champenoise. This labor-intensive process is famously used to make sparkling wine in the Champagne region of France. The traditional method coupled with tight regulations regarding the type of grapes that can be utilized, and other strict requirements, differentiates these ‘sparkling wines’ from other varieties of sparkling wines such as Pét-nat (Pétillant Naturel), bubbles and Prosecco.
Argyle Winery in Dundee, Oregon, was established in 1987 as the Dundee Wine Company with Rollin Soles as their first winemaker. According to marketing manager Elizabeth Clark, while there were some limited sparkling wines produced before Argyle entered the market, Oregon’s early wineries took their inspiration from Burgundy and focused on still wines — most notably Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. ‘Soles believed Argyle could do both and has been proven correct by history, with Argyle being one of the only wineries in the world to have red, white and sparkling wines earn places on Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s best wines,’ Clark says. Argyle has the distinction of being the first Willamette Valley winery to establish a dedicated sparkling program with every stage of the wines made in-house.
Method Oregon Grand Tasting
Twenty-two Willamette Valley producers will be pouring more than 50 sparkling wines at Method Oregon Grand Tasting held at Domaine Willamette on July 26, 2025. Each bottle featured will have undergone at least 15 months of tirage (aging on the lees after second fermentation) to ensure quality and complexity in the glass.
Along with tasting sparkling wine paired with exquisite local foods, those choosing to purchase a limited all-access pass can also savor a sparkling lunch prepared by the Domaine Willamette culinary team and a panel discussion featuring Rollin Soles, founder of ROCO Winery and founding winemaker of Argyle Winery; Andrew Davis; and Kate Payne Brown, head winemaker at Argyle Winery, along with moderator Julia Coney, award-winning wine writer, speaker and consultant based in both Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas.
In the estimation of Jeanne Feldkamp, co-owner and co-winemaker for Corollary Wines, Method Oregon paves the way for a tremendous opportunity in Oregon wine to elevate a distinctive style of traditional method sparkling wine that people can’t get anywhere else. ‘Our state’s unique geography delivers freshness, acidity and a distinctively Oregon fruit profile that are ideal for the long aging required by traditional method production.’”