Tualatin Hills AVA

Tualatin Hills
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2020[1]
CountryUnited States
Part ofOregon, Willamette Valley AVA
Other regions in Oregon, Willamette Valley AVAChehalem Mountains AVA, Dundee Hills AVA, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Laurelwood District AVA, Lower Long Tom AVA, McMinnville AVA, Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA, Van Duzer Corridor AVA, Yamhill-Carlton District AVA
Growing season174 days[2]
Climate regionContinental
Precipitation (annual average)43.67 inches (1,109 mm)[3]
Soil conditionsWeathered basalt and sedimentary loess with fine, silty soil[1]
Total area33,600 acres (53 sq mi).[1]
Size of planted vineyards975 acres (395 ha)[1]
No. of vineyards41[4]
Grapes producedChardonnay, Pinot Noir[3]
No. of wineries10[4]

Tualatin Hills (/tuːˈɑːlətɪn/ ⓘ Too-ah-lə-tin) is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) due west of Portland and just east from the Oregon Coast Range within portions of Multnomah and Washington Counties located entirely within the northernmost Willamette Valley landform in and around the towns of Gaston, Forest Grove, Sherwood and Cornelius. It was established as the nation's 247th, the state's 20th and the valley's tenth wine appellation[5] on June 3, 2020 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Rudolf Marchesi, president of Montinore Estate, Alfredo Apolloni, owner and winemaker of Apolloni Vineyards, and Mike Kuenz, general manager of David Hill Vineyard and Winery, on behalf of themselves and other local grape growers and vintners, proposing the viticultural area named "Tualatin Hills."[6]
The area lies in the upland hills of the Tualatin River watershed and encompasses elevations between 200 and 1,000 feet (61–305 m). To the south and southeast are the Chehalem Mountains with elevations of over 1,000 feet (305 m) and considered to be a separate, distinct landform from the uplands within the Tualatin Hills. The region extends over approximately 144,000 acres (225 sq mi) and, at the outset, contained 21 wineries with 33 commercially-producing vineyards cultivating approximately 860.5 acres (348 ha).[1] The distinguishing features of Tualatin Hills are its soils, elevation, and climate.[3][7]

Terroir

Tualatin Estates Vineyards

The Willamette Valley is full of microclimates, varying aspects and more that have a profound impact on the wines grown there. Tualatin Hills is partially adjacent at its southern end to Laurelwood District AVA which was established with Tualatin Hills. The two AVAs are both noted for the Laurelwood soils consisting of exceptionally fine loess deposited over ancient basalt. The silt-sized sediment was formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust produced by the grinding down of basaltic and other volcanic rocks by glaciers during the last Ice Age. However, Tualatin Hills also contains Kinton and Cornelius soils mixed with the Laurelwood soil while its adjacent AVA is primarily a concentration of its namesake soil.[3][7] The USDA plant hardiness zones are 8a and 8b.[8]

Wine Industry

The area lies in the heart of Oregon's Pinot Noir producing zone. It is home to some of the oldest vineyards in Oregon, including David Hill, Ponzi and Cooper Mountain. The AVA petition filed at the TTB in 2015 was led by Alfredo Apolloni of Apolloni Vineyards, Rudy Marchesi of Montinore Estate and Mike Kuenz of David Hill Vineyard and Winery.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Establishment of the Tualatin Hills and Laurelwood District Viticultural Areas" (27 CFR 9 [Docket No. TTB–2019–0003; T.D. TTB–160; Ref: Notice No. 181] RIN 1513–AC52 Final Rule). Federal Register. 85 (107). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury: 34095–34100. June 3, 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ↑ "Frost Dates for Gaston, OR". Almanac.com. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Micallef, Joseph V (June 10, 2020). "Tualatin Hills And The Laurelwood District Are Oregon's Newest American Viticultural Areas". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Tualatin Hills". Willamette Valley Wine. Willamette Valley Wineries Association. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  5. ↑ "List of AVAs by Establishment Date". TTB.gov. 2024. Archived from the original on February 5, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  6. ↑ Marchesi, Rudolf; Apolloni, Alfredo; Kuenz, Mike (June 1, 2020). "Petition for Tualatin Hills AVA" (PDF). TTB.gov.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. 1 2 3 Stock, Mark (June 10, 2020). "New Northern AVAs". Oregon Wine Press. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Tualatin Hills – American Viticultural Area (AVA)". Plantmaps.com. United States Department of Agriculture. 2016. Archived from the original on April 19, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2026.

45°32′51″N 123°09′27″W / 45.5476°N 123.1574°W / 45.5476; -123.1574

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