Koosah Vineyard

At the very top elevation of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA sits Koosah Vineyard‒in the Coast Salish dialect the name "koosah" means "beautiful ceiling of the sky". This "magnum opus" project of grower Kevin Chambers is without question one of the most thoughtfully planted (and riskiest) vineyards in Willamette Valley history.

On one of his many trips to the vineyard for samples prior to harvest, winemaker Evan Martin made this video standing above some of our rows with a dramatic view that demonstrates the vineyard’s elevation.

The Terroir:

Koosah Vineyard - Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

The Eola-Amity Hills is situated to the immediate east of the Van Duzer Corridor, the "air-conditioning" pathway through the Coast Range where marine air blows in from the pacific ocean, lowering the growing season temperatures as well as elevating the presence of salinity in the wines.

Koosah, which in the Coast Salish dialect means "beautiful ceiling of the sky", sits at the very top elevation (1,100 feet) along the upper slope of a dramatic drainage that runs all the way down to the valley floor (200 feet). The cool, east-southeast aspect combined with the slope's prominent wind exposure, leads to especially extended hang times and patient development of complex flavors.

Koosah is without question one of the most thoughtfully-planted vineyards in the Willamette's history, but also one of the riskiest. Fall rains will almost always threaten the harvest. Yet these calculated risks are already paying dividends: bright acidity, perfectly ripe fruit, lifted aromatics and a kiss of salinity. Furthermore, the shallow topsoil and rocky volcanic subsoil provide balanced stress to the vines, resulting in open canopies, restrained yields, and berries that develop thicker skins, leading to wines of remarkable texture and tension.

In summary, Koosah is at the forefront of the discussion about what Willamette Valley Chardonnay can and should be.