Explore Oregon Wines: Wineries | Varietals | AVAs | Cellar 503 Selections
Sarver Winery 2018 Riesling
Elhanan Vineyard
In 1984 Bob and Betty McKinney cleared the property that is now known as Elhanan Vineyard, planting some of the original Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris vines in the South Willamette Valley. Over the next ten years they planted a total of 20,000 vines on a 35-acre plot. The vineyard is rooted in Jory and Willakenzie soils and sits on a southeast facing slope with a peak elevation of 700 feet. The vineyard consists of the following varietals: 7 acres - White Riesling, 13 acres - Pinot Gris, 12 acres - Pinot Noir, 2 acres - Early Muscat, and 1 acre - Gewurztraminer.
Chris Sarver and David Hook are the winemakers at Sarver Winery. The company produces between three and four thousand cases annually. Our estate wines include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Early Muscat, and Gewurztraminer. In addition to the estate wines, Sarver purchases grapes from both Washington and Southern Oregon for the production of Chardonnay and red varietals from around the region. Sarver Winery uses their grapes to make both single varietals, signature blends, rosé, sparkling wines, and port-influenced dessert wines.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Sarver Winery, Eugene, Oregon
2018 Riesling
Chris and Erin Sarver are originally from Michigan. They moved to Oregon in 2007 in pursuit of their dreams of making wine. Chris and Erin are longtime owners of the Lake Superior Brewing Company in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and used their brewing and restaurant experience to launch their new endeavor: making boutique, expressive wines in the acclaimed Willamette Valley. Fast forward to 2021 and the winery is bustling with a lively tasting room, a 5,000 square foot winery where a multitude of fine wines are carefully tended to, and a glorious vista from which to take it all in.
We were looking to express the impacts of elevation & site through the wines chosen for this month's release. We were excited when we stumbled upon this beautifully sloped vineyard with a unique aspect just south of Eugene. This unique area of the state benefits from the air flow of the coastal corridor in which they sit that flows right through the South Willamette Valley, a true happy place for Riesling to thrive.
This powerhouse Riesling with aromatic notes of Petrol and elegant yet powerful notes of white peach and other pale stone fruits. Bright and crisp, with medium plus acidity - this wine is a glorious example of the ability of Riesling to age and the complex nuances of flavor that encompasses everything from fruit to floral that only excellent winemaking and time in the bottle can bring. Barely off dry, this wine provides an alternative to the sweeter styles of this grape variety that we feel is not only extremely refreshing for the summer but extremely easy to pair with Asian and spicy foods. We hope that you'll enjoy the west coast flavor profiles elevated by old world winemaking techniques.
A Cellar 503 selection in August 2023, Elevation Willamette Valley | Riesling
