Silice, French for “Silica,” is our sandiest vineyard site and is located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Long ago, this land hosted a black walnut orchard and later became a small cattle farm before being abandoned and left to permanent pasture. In 2001, my family planted this land to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapevines. This rolling hillside on top of Calkins Lane, blessed with an all-day sun exposure and strong winds all year long, is perfectly situated for ripening complex, spicy, and structured wines. This site’s 60-million-year-old, sandy soils must have been, in prehistoric times, a very large dune and/or beach. The soil at Silice, with its astounding 70% sand content, reaches down 15-20 feet to the compressed sandstone bedrock below.

Pinot Noir from this vineyard is wonderfully spicy and floral with complimentary savory notes of fresh and dried garden herbs. In addition, due to the bright light and wind components that shape this great terroir, Silice is our most fruit-forward and ripe-feeling Pinot Noir each and every vintage. Cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, pepper, nutmeg, sassafras, and cola are common descriptors. Chardonnay from Silice is textural, bright, floral, and delicate. Annually, Silice Chardonnay is the base of the blend for Sigrid because of its great tension and age-worthy richness.

Years planted: 2001-2006

AVA: Chehalem Mountains AVA

Soil Type: Deep marine sedimentary sands on sandstone bedrock.

Elevation: 400ft.

Acres: 14

Density: 2,200-5,000 vines/acre

Varietals planted: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Farming Style: 0% conventional, non-certified BD/regenerative-ecological since inception.