Coleman Agriculture will expand its crop portfolio in 2023 to include pinot noir grapes as part of its continued mission to cultivate the future of Oregon’s agriculture industry. Willamette Valley pinot noir brands are fast gaining global recognition. Demand for the region’s luxury labels has created interest among a new market of more conservative wine aficionados seeking to enjoy the varietal at a price point of $20-$30 per bottle.
“Our goal is to be the regional leader in the production of high-volume premium grapes to help local wine makers continue to grow their brand portfolios with wines that appeal to consumers seeking more moderately priced bottles,” said David Henze, President of Coleman Agriculture. “We’re implementing the latest technologies in grape crop production – very similar to what takes place in California’s wine growing regions – and expect to harvest our first return in 2025.”
Coleman Agriculture is dedicating 30 acres of its farm to planting the grape vines with an expected total of 26,000 vines and five-year full maturity yield of 4.5 tons per acre. Based on their innovative study and work in hop terroir, Coleman Agriculture’s team analyzed their growing footprint to determine the best location to plant the vines. The plot is vigorous and fertile, ideal for growing high yields of grapes.
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Coleman Agriculture’s sixth generation agricultural expertise is augmented by a collaborative partner solely dedicated to producing quality wine grapes.
“We’ve put the best experts from our team at the forefront of making this new initiative a success for all stakeholders,” said Henze. “We’re deeply committed to partnering with local wine makers to ensure that our fruit enables them the opportunity to maximize its potential. Ultimately, we want to help our regional wineries thrive.”
The proximity of Coleman Agriculture’s vineyard to Willamette Valley’s winemakers is also key to the success of future partnerships. Coleman Agriculture is dedicated to involving winemakers in growing decisions by monitoring the health and development of the fruit on a regular basis, as well as empowering them to make cultivation recommendations that will meet the objectives of their final products.