Dundee Hills, Ore. – March 9, 2023 – Sokol Blosser purchased its first new vineyard – the Kalita Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of Willamette Valley – in 2021. They are now releasing their first wine from this legendary vineyard that was first planted in 2000. The Sokol Blosser 2021 Kalita Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir is now available online and to wholesalers. Consumers can expect to see it at retailers and restaurants soon.
“This is an exciting release for us, because not only is it the first wine from our first newly acquired vineyard, but it’s also the vintage of our winery’s 50th anniversary in 2021,” said Sokol Blosser President Alex Sokol Blosser. “The prior owners farmed this land in very thoughtful and sustainable ways. We knew it would bear excellent fruit, which is the basis for every truly great wine – and this wine fits that description.”
The 2021 vintage was marked by a heat dome that sent temperatures soaring into triple digits for three straight days in late June, breaking records in the Willamette Valley. The heat continued into July and August, but September brought light rains that allowed the grapes to fully ripen. “While we thought so much intense heat would compromise the fruit, we were wrong – Mother Nature gave us something to celebrate,” added Sokol Blosser.
The Sokol Blosser Kalita Vineyard 2021 Estate Pinot Noir bursts with classic Yamhill-Carlton dark-fruit notes, including black cherry, cranberry, and blackberry. Warm spices, espresso, and woodsy forest floor are backed up with grippy tannins to balance the fruit. Notes Sokol Blosser, “Our new Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir differs from our Dundee Hills Pinot Noirs, which tend to be more delicate, showing bright red fruits. It’s a lot of fun working with fruit from an AVA that brings new flavors to the party.”
The Kalita Vineyard currently is LIVE certified and Sokol Blosser is transitioning it to organic certification (which is expected by the 2024 harvest). The vineyard spans 65 acres, with 22 planted to Pinot Noir. The vineyard is famous for its bowl shape, with south-, southeast- and southwest-facing hillsides at elevations from 525-750 feet. A total of 748 cases of Sokol Blosser Kalita Vineyard 2021 Estate Pinot Noir were produced and the suggested retail price per bottle is $45.
About Sokol Blosser Winery
As one of the pioneering wineries of the Willamette Valley, Sokol Blosser has played a key role in developing and shaping the now-prominent Oregon wine industry. The winery remains family owned and operated, with the second generation now at the helm. Achieving B Corp certification in 2015, the winery creates wines of world-class quality, produced in a sustainable manner, reflecting the distinctive flavors of the grapes, soil and climate. The winery produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gamay, Riesling, sparkling wines, and small quantities of single block Pinot Noir under its Sokol Blosser brand, and white and red blends, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling under the Evolution label. Visit http://www.sokolblosser.com/ and follow @sokolblosser and @evolutionwines on Instagram and Facebook.
