For the love of France, here in Oregon

Whether it’s latitude, climate, or topography, it’s clear that Oregon’s wine country has much in common with some of the great wine regions of France. But it’s rare to find a winemaker as committed as Byron Dooley to making wine in the French style.

Byron’s approach is to use French varietals and classic French winemaking techniques. He sources his grapes from more than a dozen vineyards in the Willamette and Columbia Valleys, going so far as to select specific rows of grape vines that have particular characteristics that he’s looking for.

He may be sourcing the grapes from numerous vineyards, but Byron is certainly not hands-off. He directs the cultivation and harvesting methods to match his vision for the French style wines he intends to make. And then, once he’s got his hands on the grapes, his approach is minimalist and traditionally French.

Byron’s Bordeaux varietals (Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc) and Tannat appear in his Chateau Figareaux line, while his Rhône varietals (Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) appear in the Seven of Hearts Chatte d’Avignon line.