Winemaking Update
Ian Burch, Winemaker
Wine is often referred to as a living animal and we tend to agree. After all, it’s always changing and evolving—a creature with a real personality, different depending on where it was raised.
That metaphor strikes a special chord in the winter. It’s a peaceful stretch, with the organized chaos of harvest in the rear mirror. Now, just like the vines in the field and the wines in the barrel, it’s time to hibernate. Granted, there’s still plenty to do (and the wines continue to grow and mature in the barrel), but it’s a restorative time that allows us to re-energize, reflect, and ready ourselves for another growing season.
These brisk days allow us to really focus on the many little things that make big differences in the end. We’re getting ready to prune in our estate vineyards and checking in on wines from the 2021 vintage, one that’s really starting to show its strength. In fact, we’re including a pair of wines from this tremendous year in the club shipment, the Archer’s Edge and Renegade Ridge Pinot Noirs. We are beyond thrilled to pass them along to you, a duo of limited-production Pinot that’s showing all the concentration and character we’ve come to associate with 2021.
The color alone of these wines is mesmerizing. Per usual, the Archer’s Edge is lively, driven by dark fruit and spice. These vines serve as the gateway to Archery Summit, set just down the road from our Dundee Hills winery. The Renegade Ridge, as it tends to do, offers a little pleasant mystery on the palate. It’s a refined wine that simply lures you in for more. We hope you’ll enjoy these offerings with friends and family and get a real snapshot of a glorious Willamette Valley vintage.
Winter is a great time to visit and we hope you can join us. The Valley is calm and serene at the moment, creating an almost meditative tasting experience. If you would like to dine with me while enjoying five of your favorite Archery Summit wines, keep our February winemaker’s dinner on your radar. Our Winemaker’s Dinner will be hosted at The Joel Palmer House on Wednesday, February 1st from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. We hope to see you there! Tickets can be secured through the link below.
Happy New Year,
Ian
