2021 00 Wines VGW Chardonnay

00 Wines (known to many as “Double Zero”) was founded with the intent of raising the bar for Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with an eye toward emulating the great wines of Burgundy. By all accounts they have achieved their goal and are today lauded as the Oregon Chardonnay specialists that have cracked the code. Founded by former environmental attorney Chris Hermann, 00 Wines has quietly focused on sourcing fruit from the Willamette Valley’s premier chardonnay and pinot noir vineyards and terroirs, while also engaging in classic Burgundian production techniques that have largely been ignored in Oregon, particularly the “Black Chardonnay” technique. Meanwhile, their pinot noir berries are hand clipped and then fermented in small amphora to create an exquisite fragrance and texture not achievable otherwise. Today, 00 Wines are actively sought out by collectors and enthusiasts.

Willamette Valley AVA was established in 1983, and it is the oldest appellation in Oregon. Oregon’s modern wine industry began in the Willamette Valley in the 1960s when artists, vagabond winemakers, and U.C. Davis oenology graduates looking for new territory started their own, small, off-the-grid wineries. The appellation is the state’s largest, and it extends 175 miles from Columbia River on the Washington/Oregon border to just south of Eugene, near central Oregon. The Willamette River runs through the area, helping to give the appellation a mild year-round climate. There are six smaller sub-appellations within this AVA, but altogether the Willamette Valley has the largest concentration of wineries in Oregon, as well as the majority of the state’s most famous producers. Pinot Noir is king here, followed by Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling. To most admirers of Oregon Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley offers the most distinctive wine choices in the state.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.