Chehalem is considered a vineyard winery, aiming to reflect what the vineyard has produced purely, with minimal processing and without compromising great fruit. Their name, Chehalem, translates to Valley of Flowers in the Native American language, Calapooya. Their story starts in 1990 with the inaugural Pinot Noir harvest at Ridgecrest Vineyard. As those wines were releasing in 1993, Bill Stoller joined as co-owner. He subsequently purchased his family farmlands at the southern tip of the Dundee with the vision of planting it as the second estate vineyard. In early 2018, Bill Stoller became the sole owner of Chehalem.

The 2022 Corral Creek Vineyard Riesling comes from the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The alcohol level checks in at 13.5%. The color is a pale gold that sparkles like crystals in the glass, complemented by aromas of white flowers. Within the core are notes of tropical fruit, lemon zest and a background of minerality. The palate is soft and refined with a hint of sweetness. It remains nicely balanced with moderate acidity that lingers into the finish. This is a well-made Riesling to enjoy on a warm summer day.

By Perry Miroballi