Location:
Yamhill-Carlton District is a sub-appellation of the Willamette Valley AVA. It's located 35 miles southwest of Portland and 40 miles east of the Pacific Ocean and includes the hamlets of Carlton and Yamhill.
The Numbers:
60 vineyards, 20 wineries, 1,200 acres of grapes
Wine History:
Once primarily known for tree-fruit orchards, nurseries and livestock, wheat and logging, the area now known as the Yamhill-Carlton District has a relatively recent wine history. In 1974, pioneers Pat and Joe Campbell started Elk Cove Vineyards, which produced the first commercial wine in the Yamhill-Carlton area at a time when other areas of the North Willamette Valley were just starting to be planted. Other pioneers quickly followed suit and today it is known as one of the country's finest producers of cool-climate varietals. Yamhill-Carlton District was officially established in 2004.
Climate:
The Yamhill-Carlton District is protected by high elevation areas to the west (Coast Range), north (Chehalem Mountains) and east (Dundee Hills), which results in less rain than surrounding areas and moderate growing conditions perfectly suited for cool-climate grapes, including the area's signature variety: Pinot noir.
Soils:
Yamhill-Carlton is comprised of coarse-grained, ancient marine sedimentary soils, over sandstone and siltstone, that drain quickly, making them ideal for viticulture. Grapes grown in such soil often result in wines lower in acid than those made from grapes grown in basaltic or wind-blown soils.
Topography:
Yamhill-Carlton vineyards grow on sites with elevations between 200 and 1,000 feet, avoiding low valley frost and high elevation temperatures unsuitable for effective ripening. Geographically, this area is protected by the Coast Range to the west, the Chehalem Mountains to the north and the Dundee Hills to the east.
Predominant Varieties:
Pinot noir (82%), Pinot gris (7%), and Chardonnay (4%) account for 93% of the planted acreage in the Yamhill-Carlton District. 
While you're here:
The Yamhill-Carlton appellation sits at the north end of the Willamette Valley, about an hour's drive from Portland, Oregon's biggest city. Within this region's scenic vineyards, farms, green hills and forest areas are the hamlets of Carlton and Yamhill, as well as other charming small towns, including McMinnville, Forest Grove, Dundee and Newberg that offer a great variety of charming inns and bed and breakfasts, and an impressive collection of intimate, chef-owned restaurants serving wine-friendly Pacific Northwest cuisine.

Resources for Visiting Yamhill-Carlton
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