Education · Gaston

Kramer Vineyards: The 6-Clone Marathon

Kramer Vineyards maintains Oregon's most comprehensive clone library - separate vineyard blocks of Pommard, Wädenswil, Dijon 115, 667, 777, and 828, each vinified individually. Your challenge: taste all six, create a flavor map ranking them from most elegant to most powerful, and identify which clones you'd use for your imaginary winery. This isn't a passive tasting - it's a working session that will permanently change how you understand Pinot Noir.

What to do there

4 things to do

Kramer Vineyards maintains separate blocks of 6+ clones vinified individually — a true clone laboratory you can taste. Book their Single Clone Pinot Noir Series tasting at 26830 NW Olson Rd, Gaston via exploretock.com/kramervineyards or call 503-662-4545. Request specifically: Pommard, Wädenswil, Dijon 115, Dijon 667, Dijon 777, and Dijon 828 if available. The tasting room is open Thursday-Monday, 11am-3:30pm, with same-day reservations often available.
Backup: If single-clone flight isn't available, book their Cardiac Hill Vertical Tasting (6 vintages) - the winemaker leads it personally and discusses how clone selection evolved over the years.

Log Memory
Rank all 6 clones from most elegant to most powerful.

THE CHALLENGE: Draw a simple grid on your napkin with 'ELEGANT' on the left and 'POWERFUL' on the right. As you taste each clone, place it on your spectrum. USE THESE GUIDELINES: 115 = the balance clone, usually lands center-right; 667 = dark cherry and bramble, medium-power; 777 = spiciest, usually far right; 828 = the 'finesse' clone, often center-left; Pommard = earthy structure, mid-power; Wädenswil = Swiss heritage, disease-resistant, often shows more delicate character. WRITE TASTING NOTES for each: color depth, fruit character (red vs dark), spice level, tannin grip, finish length. Ask the server to review your map and correct any misconceptions.
Backup: If you can't draw, just rank them 1-6 with 1=most elegant and 6=most powerful.

Log Memory
What: Ask the server to explain the pre-Dijon era. Key facts to extract: Pommard arrived in California via UC Davis in 1956; Wädenswil came from Switzerland in 1952; these 'heritage clones' built Oregon Pinot before the Dijon revolution. Oregon is still 40% Pommard because it THRIVES in the cool, moist Willamette climate. WHY IT MATTERS: Many winemakers now believe heritage clones produce more SITE-EXPRESSIVE wines - they show terroir rather than clone character. Dijon clones (especially 777) can dominate the wine with their own personality. HOW TO VERIFY: Ask which of their wines are heritage-clone dominant vs Dijon-dominant. The heritage wines should taste earthier, more savory, less fruit-forward.
Backup: If server isn't knowledgeable, their blog has a full guide at kramervineyards.com/blog/Guide-to-Pinot-Noir-Clones-Q---A.

Log Memory
THE FINAL CHALLENGE: Based on your tasting, design your own Pinot Noir blend using percentages. Example: '40% Pommard for structure, 30% 777 for spice, 20% 115 for balance, 10% 828 for elegance.' Write your blend on a napkin with your reasoning. THEN ASK: 'What's your actual estate blend formula?' Compare your imaginary blend to their real one. Most great Pinot Noirs are 3-5 clone blends - each clone contributes something. If your blend is close to theirs, you've internalized the lesson. PHOTO OP: Photograph your written blend next to your tasting glasses (GPS: 45.4261, -123.2178). This becomes your clone education diploma.
Backup: If you're overwhelmed, just pick your single favorite clone and explain why.

Log Memory

Insider tips

Oregon is roughly 40% Pommard clone - it LOVES the cool, moist Willamette climate and produces age-worthy wines.
Wädenswil clones came from Switzerland - their disease resistance made them Oregon favorites before Dijon arrived.
Most Oregon wineries BLEND clones; Kramer's single-clone bottlings are educational rarities - buy them if available.
The family has farmed here since 1984 - this is genuine Oregon wine pioneering, not corporate wine tourism.
Dijon 828 is the 'finesse' clone - if you like Burgundy's elegance over California's power, 828 is your clone.