David Lett, the Father of Oregon Pinot Noir

Oregon wine country would be a drastically differentelegant wine that is so typical of wine from Burgundy
place without David Lett. In 1967 Lett and his wifeand the great Bordeaux's.
bought a 20 acre farm which would soon becomeHaving graduated form the preeminent viniculture
Eyrie Vineyards and proceeded to replace the pruneculture in the world, the University of California at
farm with a combination of European grapes. DavidDavis and having spent significant time in France
thought that the more challenging growing conditionsDavid Lett had a unique appreciation for terrior and
in Oregon would lead to wines with more finesse andthe greatness that can be found in wines grown in
complexity then was typically found in other newless than ideal ripening conditions.
world producers in California, Chile and Australia.He planted a series of grapes that are known to do
He thought, much like the French chateau ownerswell in cooler climates such as the aforementioned
that grapes grown in ideal conditions could neverPinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris and a few others.
have to work to ripen and achieve the type of