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Capitello Wines Elkhead Vineyard Sauvignon Gris
When in doubt, do both.
Like a lot of Kiwis, Ray Walsh left New Zealand to explore the world shortly after college. Traipsing about Europe, he ran out of cash while in Germany. So, broke and curious, he picked up some work in the vineyards in Mosel. And like a lot of folks who get their hands dirty in a vineyard, a passion was sparked.
Before long, Ray moved back home to New Zealand. But the wanderlust continued.
For nearly three decades, Ray has split his time between Oregon and New Zealand – working two growing seasons, two harvests, and two crushes a year. That’s one way to accelerate your experience! (Not to mention always chasing the edge of the summer and fall – and skipping the rainy winter/spring months.)
Oregon’s known for Pinot Noir and New Zealand’s famous for Sauvignon Blanc. Ray’s answer? Make both wines in both places! Ray and his partner, Jen, make their wine and the wines of a few other local wineries in a shared space in downtown Eugene. Their darling urban tasting room is right around the corner. Put them on your travel itinerary!
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Capitello Wines, Eugene, Oregon
Elkhead Vineyard Sauvignon Gris
Sauvignon Gris (also known as Fie Gris in the Loire) is perhaps the most obscure Loire Valley grape variety, as it was thought to be extinct following the phylloxera epidemic the 1870 - 1880’s. It wasn’t until the vigneron Jacky Preys expanded his Loire winery by purchasing a second vineyard property in 1980, then finding a 3-hectare block within that vineyard of white grape vines unfamiliar to him, however researchers later discovered it to be Sauvignon Gris. At first thinking this was bad news, as Sauvignon Gris was not a recognized variety by the Loire Appellation Control, and therefore could not be used, but then Jacky thought this is possibly a gold mine too! Rather than ripping the vines out & replanting, Jacky fought back, forcing the Appellation Control to recognize the heritage of Sauvignon Gris as a Loire varietal with documents he’d found from the 1820’s saying Fie Gris being the best variety of the Loire and was even sold in bulk to Bordeaux wineries for increasing richness to their red wines! Today with cuttings from Jacky Prays vineyard, Sauvignon Gris has expanded to Bordeaux, Chile, New Zealand and now even Oregon. (IKYDK...1 hectare = 2.47 acres)
VINEYARD Elkhead Vineyard (just 40 miles south of Eugene), is the first vineyard in Oregon to have planted Sauvignon Gris. Owners Andy and Kyna Laurie also have a 20-hectare vineyard ‘Escaroth’ in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, with 1 hectare planted to Sauvignon Gris. Both vineyards are dry farmed, allowing higher flavor concentration.
WINEMAKING Once harvested, the fruit is pressed immediately to minimize any color pick up from the skins, from there its transferred to French Concrete Eggs for the fermentations. These concrete eggs allow higher lees contact and micro-oxygen to the wine, both of which gives the wine a richer-rounder mouthfeel while still retaining fruit freshness and varietal intensity.
TASTING NOTES Intense Fig, Peach, with hints of apricots, mint and dry flowers. In the mouth, Asian pear, figs and mandarin’s flavors, with a nice zesty-candy like mid-palate that rounds out to star fruit finish and slight mineral tone. Best served just slightly chilled to enjoy it’s refreshing and quenching flavors. Enjoy!
pH: 3.18
TA: 6.8g/L
Alc 13.8 %
A Cellar 503 selection in March 2025, Big on Bordeaux Umpqua Valley | Sauvignon Gris
