WINEMAKER'S NOTES
At Van Duzer we prefer to make a crisp, light and lively Pinot Gris that is ready for consumption right after bottling. To this end, we avoid the use of barrel aging, preferring to preserve this grape's fresh fruit essence through the use of stainless steel. Our 2002 Pinot Gris offers up a tropical fruit, flint and citrus blossom nose along with fresh pear and melon flavors balanced by a crisp, juicy finish. This change-of-pace white makes a great aperitif and an interesting match for Asian and fusion dishes.

ACCOLADES
"Light, fruity nose, some melon and fruit cocktail aromas; dry, light fruity style, tangy pear flavors, lingering finish. Great for sipping or pairing with Asian-inspired cuisine."

THE VINEYARDS
Pinot Gris has become an increasingly successful and popular varietal for Oregon wine. Van Duzer grows five acres of Pinot Gris on the eastern portion of the property where the vines receive daylong exposure to the sun, allowing this grape to ripen with full flavor and good acid balance. We cultivate Pinot Gris clones 146 and 152 on 16-year-old vines. We like the 146 clone for its grapefruit and flinty character while clone 152 contributes complimentary peach, melon, honey and fig notes.


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WINEMAKING
Our winemaking efforts with Pinot Gris are focused on preserving the fresh fruit character inherent in the grapes. That’s why the grapes were harvested by hand, then whole-cluster pressed, the gentlest method of extracting juice for fermentation. The grapes were cold-settled for 24 hours prior to being transferred to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Bottling took place after only four months to capture maximum fresh fruit character.