THE VINEYARDS
Viticulture
The Henry's were one of the first families to explore wine growing in the Umpqua Valley. They soon demonstrated that the area was perfect; the versatile climate combined with a multitude of soil geographies provides the most diversified growing region in Oregon.
The Umpqua Valley, in Southwest Oregon is blessed with warm summer days and cool nights that enhance the flavor and varietal characteristics of grapes. Climatic characteristics, similar to the Burgundy region in France, provide for premium wines with exceptional ageability.
Always striving toward perfection, family patriarch Scott Henry III extended his knowledge and creativity to the family vineyards. He developed a unique trellising and canopy management system that optimizes the maturation of grapes and the quality of the resulting world-class Henry Estate wines. The Scott Henry Trellis System is used exclusively in Henry Estate vineyards, and today, it has been adopted and used throughout many of the world’s finest wine-growing regions including Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America.
The Umpqua Valley, in Southwest Oregon is blessed with warm summer days and cool nights that enhance the flavor and varietal characteristics of grapes. Climatic characteristics, similar to the Burgundy region in France, provide for premium wines with exceptional ageability.
Always striving toward perfection, family patriarch Scott Henry III extended his knowledge and creativity to the family vineyards. He developed a unique trellising and canopy management system that optimizes the maturation of grapes and the quality of the resulting world-class Henry Estate wines. The Scott Henry Trellis System is used exclusively in Henry Estate vineyards, and today, it has been adopted and used throughout many of the world’s finest wine-growing regions including Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America.
Vineyards surrounding the Henry Estate Winery currently produce gewürztraminer, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, pinot gris, müller-thurgau and white riesling. "Great wine is grown in the vineyard," the Henry family believes. That's why 95% of all grapes used at the winery are Estate grown, insuring complete control through constant vineyard oversight.
Climate/Geography
The Umpqua Valley appellation consists of an interconnected series of small mountain hillsides and cross-valleys covering some 1,200 square miles. It is bordered on the north and west by the Coast Range Mountains, on the south by the Klamath Mountains and on the east by the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. Grape growing in the Umpqua Valley dates back to 1880, distinguishing this area as one of Oregon 's oldest wine producing regions.
Henry Estate Vineyard is situated in Coles Valley, which is the last valley that the Umpqua River passes through before reaching the Coast Range Mountains. The vineyard location is on the valley floor (slightly undulated in profile) at about 400 feet above sea level. The soil is very rich, composed mostly of a clay loam with soil depths varying between 15 and 20 feet. The base under the soil is gravel from the remains of the old river bed. Normal summertime water level is at a depth of about 13 feet.
Henry Estate Vineyard is situated in Coles Valley, which is the last valley that the Umpqua River passes through before reaching the Coast Range Mountains. The vineyard location is on the valley floor (slightly undulated in profile) at about 400 feet above sea level. The soil is very rich, composed mostly of a clay loam with soil depths varying between 15 and 20 feet. The base under the soil is gravel from the remains of the old river bed. Normal summertime water level is at a depth of about 13 feet.
Henry Estate Vineyard is located in the center of the valley, which allows for early morning and late afternoon sun. Henry Estate is one of the first vineyards in the Umpqua Valley to ripen fruit each year. The vineyard is influenced by the wind carried up river almost every afternoon from the Oregon coast. This current carries moisture in the springtime, which protects the vineyard from frost.
Vintages vary; bud break generally takes place during the first week in April with bloom and set around mid-June. Veraison happens during the second week in August. Harvest starts the last week of September or the first week of October, and concludes before the fall rains, by the end of the first week in November.
Vintages vary; bud break generally takes place during the first week in April with bloom and set around mid-June. Veraison happens during the second week in August. Harvest starts the last week of September or the first week of October, and concludes before the fall rains, by the end of the first week in November.