North Valley Vineyards, a partnership between Tony Soter and veteran Winemaker James Cahill, is now owned by new investors led by James Cahill.
May 5th — Beginning this season, Winemaker James Cahill will take the reins of the North Valley Vineyards brand, signifying a natural and amicable parting of ways with Tony Soter and Soter Vineyards. The sale represents significant commitment by Cahill, who has worked for Soter for the last 19 years and has been a partner in the North Valley brand since its inception.
“Working alongside James for the last twenty years has been both the key to our many successes and a great pleasure. The quality of his work is underscored by the quality of the person.”
“We are most fortunate to have found the right partner in Mr. Jay Lee, who has a great love of fine wine and a demonstrated commitment to the Willamette Valley wine community. Together with James, Jay will further the recognition of North Valley Vineyards as a quintessential Willamette Valley producer.”
This sale consolidates Soter’s strategic move to become 100% estate grown under the Soter Vineyards label.
Under the new North Valley ownership structure, the investing partner, Mr. Lee, will contribute two Estate Vineyards to the North Valley Vineyards brand, which have been farmed in Yamhill County since 2007.
The Aegrina Vineyard is located in the McMinnville AVA and it has been a source of grapes for single vineyard bottlings from Penner-Ash and others. The second vineyard is in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA located near Shea and Penner-Ash and accessed from North Valley Road; this privileged site will become The North Valley flagship vineyard.
James will begin making the wines at two local facilities with grapes from both new and familiar sources. He’ll focus on continuing his long history of creating benchmark regional blends from the northern Willamette Valley and will explore new Estate bottlings and wines from single AVAs, both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Current release North Valley wines will remain available in Oregon and nationally through our established distribution partners, retailers and restaurants. Plans for a local North Valley tasting room with direct sales and wine club program are forthcoming.
