2021 The Setting Chehalem Mountain Chardonnay

The Setting Wines is an artisanal winemaking venture from Jesse Katz and two partners. Katz is a young, already highly acclaimed winemaker who has worked for prestigious California and Argentine wineries. He and his business partners decided to start The Setting Wines as an homage to the idea that the perfect setting, not just grape growing terroir but also the company of family and friends, is part of what makes a perfect wine. The estate produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The limited production wines are generally available only through the estate’s mailing list.

Willamette Valley AVA was established in 1983, and it is the oldest appellation in Oregon. Oregon’s modern wine industry began in the Willamette Valley in the 1960s when artists, vagabond winemakers, and U.C. Davis oenology graduates looking for new territory started their own, small, off-the-grid wineries. The appellation is the state’s largest, and it extends 175 miles from Columbia River on the Washington/Oregon border to just south of Eugene, near central Oregon. The Willamette River runs through the area, helping to give the appellation a mild year-round climate. There are six smaller sub-appellations within this AVA, but altogether the Willamette Valley has the largest concentration of wineries in Oregon, as well as the majority of the state’s most famous producers. Pinot Noir is king here, followed by Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling. To most admirers of Oregon Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley offers the most distinctive wine choices in the state.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.