Location:
Eola-Amity Hills is a sub-appellation of the Willamette Valley AVA located just west-northwest of Salem, Oregon's state capitol. It's comprised of 37,900 acres.
The Numbers:
30 wineries, 1,460 vineyard acres
Wine History:
The agricultural history of this area near Salem dates back to the mid 1850s, though it wasn't until the 1970s when winemakers started to discover the area as having ideal growing conditions for high-quality wine grapes. It was around this time that a few modern pioneers, including Don Byard of Hidden Springs, planted a patchwork of vineyards in Eola-Amity Hills. Soon after, other pioneers followed suite and today this area produces world-class, handcrafted cool-climate varietals. The appellation became official in 2006.
Climate:
The Eola-Amity Hills region enjoys a temperate climate of warm summers and mild winters, and 40 inches of annual rain, most of which falls outside of the growing season. Average maximum temperatures are 62 degrees F in April and 83 degrees F in July, which contributes to the ideal conditions for the cool-climate grape varieties that dominate the Eola-Amity Hills. The climate in this region is greatly influenced by its position due east of the Van Duzer Corridor, which provides a break in the coast range that allows cool Pacific Ocean air to flow through. This drops temperatures in the region dramatically, especially during late summer afternoons, helping to keep grape acids firm.
Soils:
The soils in the Eola-Amity Hills predominantly contain volcanic basalt from ancient lava flows as well as marine sedimentary rocks and alluvial deposits at the lower elevations of the ridge. This combination results in a relatively shallow, rocky set of well-drained soils, which typically produce small grapes with great concentration.
Topography:
Eola Hills, and its northern extension, Amity Hills, is part of a North Willamette Valley hill chain that developed out of intense volcanic activity and the collision of the Pacific and North American plates. The main ridge of the Eola Hills runs north-south and has numerous lateral ridges on both sides that run east-west. The majority of the region's vineyard sites exist at elevations between 250 to 700 feet.
Predominant Varieties:
Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Viognier, Dolcetto, Syrah
While you're here:
The Eola-Amity Hills region sits in the North Willamette Valley, just northwest of the city of Salem, Oregon's State Capitol, where visitors can find great shopping, fine-dining restaurants and a lively arts community with top-notch theaters, museums, galleries and festivals of all kind. And just 30 minutes away is the incredible 80-acre Oregon Garden and its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Gordon House.Visitors can drive the scenic country roads of Eola-Amity Hills as they experience the region's wineries and tasting rooms, as well as other artisan culinary stops, including a cidery (Wandering Angus) and a cheese making facility (Willamette Valley Cheese Co.).

Resources for Visiting Eola-Amity Hills
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