Login
Login

Lower Long Tom AVA

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Short description|Wine region in Oregon, United States}}

{{Infobox wine region

| name = Lower Long Tom

| image =

| caption =

| official name =

| other name =

| type = American Viticultural Area

| year = 2021{{cite journal |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-10/pdf/2021-23979.pdf |title=Establishment of the Lower Long Tom Viticultural Area | journal=Federal Register |date=2021-11-10 |publisher=Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury| volume=86|issue=215 | pages=62478-62481 |format= 27 CFR Part 9 [Docket No. TTB–2020–0012; T.D. TTB–175; Ref: Notice No. 197] RIN 1513–AC64 Final Rule | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118102003/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-10/pdf/2021-23979.pdf | archive-date=2021-11-18| url-status=live}}{{PD-notice}}

| wine years = {{years ago|1985}}

| country = United States

| part of = Oregon, Willamette Valley AVA

| similar = Chehalem Mountains AVA, Dundee Hills AVA, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, Laurelwood District AVA, McMinnville AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA, Tualatin Hills AVA, Van Duzer Corridor AVA, Yamhill-Carlton District AVA

| sub regions =

| season =

| climate region = Region Ib

| heat units = 2500 GDDs

| precipitation = {{cvt|40|to(-)|50|in}}

| soil = Bellpine and Bellpine/Jory complex series{{cite journal |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-10-23/pdf/2020-22603.pdf| title=Proposed Establishment of the Lower Long Tom Viticultural Area | journal=Federal Register|publisher= Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury |date=2020-10-23 |format=27 CFR Part 9 [Docket No. TTB–2020–0012; Notice No. 197] RIN 1513–AC64 Proposed |pages=67475–67480 |volume=85|issue=206|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417202942/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-10-23/pdf/2020-22603.pdf|archive-date=2023-04-17| url-status=live}}{{PD-notice}}

| total size = {{convert|25000|acres|sqmi|0}}.

| planted = {{convert|575|acres|ha|0}}{{cite web|url= https://agreatoregonwinetour.com/uncategorized/lower-long-tom-ava/ | title= Lower Long Tom AVA| website=A Great Oregon Wine Tour | date= November 4, 2022| access-date=2022-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222035414/https://agreatoregonwinetour.com/uncategorized/lower-long-tom-ava/| archive-date=2022-12-22 | url-status=live}}

| vineyards = 24{{cite web|last=Alberty |first=Michael |url= https://www.oregonlive.com/wine/2021/12/lower-long-tom-oregons-newest-wine-region-wins-the-name-game.html| title= Lower Long Tom: Oregon's newest wine region wins the name game| newspaper=The Oregonian |date=2021-12-18| access-date=2022-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222040055/https://www.oregonlive.com/wine/2021/12/lower-long-tom-oregons-newest-wine-region-wins-the-name-game.html| archive-date=2022-12-22 | url-status=live}}

| grapes = Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay{{cite web|url= https://www.willamettewines.com/about-the-valley/ava-overviews/lower-long-tom/| title= Lower Long Tom| access-date=2022-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222041544/https://www.willamettewines.com/about-the-valley/ava-overviews/lower-long-tom/| archive-date=2022-12-22 | url-status=live}}

| varietals =

| wineries = 12

| wine produced =

| designation =

| comments =

}}

Lower Long Tom is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Oregon's southern Willamette Valley, near the cities of Junction City and Monroe, with 90% of area in Lane County and the remaining in Benton County. Its center is approximately {{cvt|20|mi}} northwest of Eugene and the same distance south of Corvallis. The AVA starts south of the town of Cheshire and roughly follows Long Tom River to south of the town of Monroe, being entirely on the west side of the river. It was established on November 10, 2021 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Dieter Boehm, owner of High Pass Vineyard and Winery, proposing the establishment of the viticultural area named "Lower Long Tom."{{cite web |title=Petition for the Establishment of an American Viticultural Area in South Willamette Valley |url=https://winewitandwisdomswe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Lower-Long-Tom-AVA-Petition.pdf|website=TTB.gov |publisher= |date=2020-10-23}}{{PD-notice}} Its encompasses approximately {{convert|25000|acres|sqmi}} and established with 12 wineries and 24 commercially-producing vineyards cultivating about {{convert|575|acres}}. It lies entirely within the Willamette Valley AVA and is primarily known for its Pinot noir and Pinot gris.

Terroir

The AVA is located in the southwestern Willamette Valley, among Oregon's coastal foothills. While Prairie Mountain stamps its presence onto the viticultural qualities in the area, without being in the area itself, there are other geographical features in the area that influence those qualities. There are several tributaries of the Lower Long Tom River coming from the Coast Range, that over millennia carved out west-east oriented valleys, leaving behind a chain of hills. These tributaries are Bear Creek, fed by Owens Creek, Nails Creek and Jones Creek, Fergunson Creek, in the center of the AVA with Browning Creek as sidestream, and Shafer Creek in the north. The chain of hills behind run from the Coast Range into the Williamette Valley and terminate just before meeting the Long Tom River. There are five more or less defined ridges in the AVA, the southernmost ending the town of Cheshire, the middle ones ending at Cox Butte, Rose Butte and Monroe Butte, respectively, while the northernmost runs out just north of Monroe. The ridges of those chains rise to about {{cvt|1000|ft}} in the west of the Lower Long Tom AVA and top out at about {{cvt|550|ft}} before dropping to the valley floor in the east. The slopes of those hills are covered with moderately deep and well drained not too fertile soil, ideal for the cultivation of vitis vinifera. Currently, vineyards are located predominately on south slopes, but northeast, east, southeast, southwest and western exposures are also planted to wine grapes. The steepest gradients are about 45% slopes, with the average being 20%. The area is also warmer than surrounding regions, protected from cool marine air by a particularly high section of the Central Oregon Coast Range.{{cite web|first=Jane|last=Nickles|url= http://winewitandwisdomswe.com/2021/11/11/one-more-for-oregon-introducing-the-lower-long-tom-ava/| title= One more for Oregon: Introducing the Lower Long Tom AVA| date=2021-11-11| access-date=2022-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222044509/http://winewitandwisdomswe.com/2021/11/11/one-more-for-oregon-introducing-the-lower-long-tom-ava/| archive-date=2022-12-22 | url-status=live}}

The distinguishing feature of the Lower Long Tom is the predominance of nutrient-poor, fast-draining Bellpine soil in the area, which forces vines to push deep in pursuit of food and water. The harder-working vines are believed to produce lighter leaf canopies and smaller grapes with more concentrated flavors and more powerful tannins.

==Viticulture==

As of 2022, the Lower Long Tom is the only appellation located in the southern Willamette Valley AVA, in contrast to ten sub-appellations in the north.{{cite web|last=Archer|first=LM|url= https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/254085|website=Wine Business| title= Southern Willamette Valley Earns its First AVA |date=2021-12-12| access-date=2022-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222045744/https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/254085| archive-date=2022-12-22 | url-status=live}} The approval of the AVA enhanced the southern Willamette Valley's legitimacy as an Oregon wine region.

= Wineries =

  • [https://www.antiquumfarm.com/Farm Antiquum Farm]
  • [https://www.bennettvineyardsor.com/ Bennett Wine Company]
  • [https://benton-lane.com/ Benton-Lane Winery]
  • [https://bradshawvineyards.com/ Bradshaw Vineyard]{{cite journal |url=https://eugenemagazine.com/gourmet/taste-the-terroir/ |title= Taste the Terroir |journal= Eugene Magazine |author= Newson, Patrick |accessdate= 2024-12-08}}
  • [https://brigadoonwineco.com/ Brigadoon Wine Company].
  • [https://www.fivefourteenvineyards.com/ Five Fourteen Vineyards]
  • Poco Collina/Gelardi Vineyard
  • [https://www.gradientvineyard.com/ Gradient Vineyard]{{cite news |url= https://www.hereisoregon.com/experiences/2024/02/winery-spotlight-gradient-vineyard-the-best-oregon-winery-youve-never-heard-of.html |title= Winery Spotlight: Gradient Vineyard - the best Oregon winery you’ve never heard of

|author= Alberty, Michael |newspaper= The Oregonian |date= 2024-02-19|accessdate= 2024-12-08}}

  • [https://www.highpasswinery.com/ High Pass Winery]
  • [https://www.pfeiffer-winery.com/ Pfeiffer Winery]{{cite web|url= https://www.oregonlive.com/galleries/XLL4O26OJRGKTPYUC5OWSCQLWE/|website=The Oregonian| title= Meet Oregon's Lower Long Tom AVA| access-date=2022-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222180436/https://www.oregonlive.com/galleries/XLL4O26OJRGKTPYUC5OWSCQLWE/| archive-date=2022-12-22 | url-status=live}}
  • [https://rainsongvineyard.com/ RainSong Winery]
  • [https://territorialvineyards.com/ Territorial Vineyards and Wine Co.]
  • [https://www.walnutridgevineyard.com/ Walnut Ridge Vineyards]

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.willamettewines.com/about-the-valley/ava-overviews/lower-long-tom/ Lower Long Tom AVA]
  • [https://www.ttb.gov/images/AVA/ TTB AVA Map]

{{Oregon wine}}

Category:American Viticultural Areas of Oregon

Category:Geography of Lane County, Oregon

Category:Geography of Benton County, Oregon

Category:2021 establishments in Oregon

{{wine-region-stub}}