The winery in Amity, Oregon, 70 kilometres southwest of Portland, was founded in 1974 by Myron Redford and his partner Janis Checchia. Redford had previously graduated from the University of California with a degree in political science. It was there that he became interested in viticulture and subsequently studied for three years at the Viticulture Section. He bought vineyards in Amity from his friends Jerry and Ann Preston. It was only two acres and also in poor condition that he had to practically start from scratch. Today, the vineyards in the Amity hills in the North Willamette Valley cover 28 hectares. They are planted with the varieties Gamay (a first in the USA), Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Riesling. The high-alcohol wines from Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer are basically aged in used barriques (without wood tones) in the Alsace style. The small family winery has already won numerous gold medals at competitions. Robert Parker Jr. said: "One of the best Pinot noirs I have ever tasted". A speciality is "Eco", a sulphur-free wine made from organically grown Pinot Noir grapes.
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