The McMinnville AVA sits due west of Yamhill County’s wine country home, McMinnville. It extends approximately 20 miles south-southwest toward the mouth of the Van Duzer corridor, Oregon’s lowest coast range pass to the Pacific Ocean. The AVA is a blend of geo-climatic factors that make it unique among Yamhill County’s AVAs. Specifically, the area encompasses the land above 200 feet and below 1000 feet in elevation on the east and southeast slopes of the foothills of the Coast-range Mountains. Geologically, this region is dramatically different in soil profile from the other AVAs in the Willamette Valley. The soils are primarily uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts, with alluvial overlays. Beneath is a base of the uplifting basalt. Clay and silt loams average 20-40 inches in depth before reaching harder rock and compressed sediments, shot with basalt pebbles and stone. The uniqueness of the soils for winegrowing is in the 20 to 40 inch depth.

Climatically, this AVA is again in a class of it’s own. These primarily east and south facing slopes facing slopes sit in a protected weather shadow of the Coast-range Mountains. Rainfall is lower (33 inches annually) than sites only 12 to 20 miles to the east. The foothills also provide protection from chilling winds in the unstable air conditions of the spring and fall. Winegrowers also have the option of placing vineyards on more southerly facing sites to take advantage of the drying winds from the Van Duzer corridor. There are presently approximately 600 acres planted in the AVA. Of the greatest note is the flavor qualities of the Pinot noirs from these soils are highly pigmented, with a strong backbone of tannin and acidity and a massive palate of black fruit, spice, and earthy flavors.