Amity Vineyard

“One of the best Pinot Noirs I have ever tasted.”
Robert Parker

Located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Amity Vineyards helped establish the area’s reputation for world-class Pinot Noir. In 1985, wine critic Robert Parker “discovered” Oregon wine and was effusive in his praise for Amity Vineyard’s 1983 Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir. Today the Willamette Valley is recognized as one of the world’s premier regions for Pinot Noir, rivaling the best of Burgundy.

The founder of Amity Vineyards—Myron Redford—dreamed of making world-class Pinot Noir using grapes from his dry-farmed, hillside vineyards in Oregon. In 1974, Myron was one of a handful of pioneers to recognize that the maritime climate, long growing season and high latitude were perfect for cultivating cool-climate grapes. These wonderful grapes are the basis for Myron’s Willamette Valley Pinots, and quite a few winemakers have moved to Oregon to join him in producing amazing Willamette Valley wines.

Although winemaking runs in Myron’s blood (his great, great uncle owned part of the Mormon Winery in Utah in the late 1800s), his winemaking career began quite by accident. At a formal dinner, Myron overhead Lloyd Woodburne and Neal Peak, owners of the Associated Vintners Winery, talking about their winery. Myron asked them for a part-time job and spent the next three years learning the industry from these winemaking pioneers.

After his apprenticeship, Myron purchased a small existing vineyard in Amity, Oregon, in the Northern Willamette Valley. He spent the first two years learning about farming and preparing for his first vintage. Then in 1976, he built Amity Vineyards—all by himself—and has been making wine there every since.

Myron Redford focuses on quality over quantity, so Amity Vineyards produces only small lots of their world class wines. The varietals include Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Dry and Late Harvest Riesling and Gewurztraminer and Gamay Noir. Ever the visionary, Myron Redford produced America’s first Gamay Noir in 1988, Oregon’s first organic, sulfite-free Pinot Noir in 1990 and Oregon’s first Pinot Blanc in 1995.

Committed to sustainable viticulture, Amity Vineyards uses only hand-picked grapes from family-owned, hillside vineyards. Their Pinot Noir is aged for ten months in neutral, French Oak barrels to emphasize the natural complexity and delicacy unique to Pinot Noir. In contrast, the white wines at Amity Vineyards are fermented in stainless steel barrels and are not barrel aged.