Map of McMinnville from above, The Eyrie Vineyards marked with a wine glass

Winery · McMinnville

Eyrie Vineyards: Papa Pinot's Rebellion

In 1965, David Lett loaded a U-Haul with vine cuttings and drove from California to Oregon's Willamette Valley. UC Davis professors told him he was insane - Oregon was 'too cold, too wet.' He planted anyway. In 1979, his 1975 Pinot Noir finished second (by 0.2 points) against France's best. When Drouhin organized a rematch, Eyrie finished second again. Drouhin bought land in Oregon.

Visiting The Eyrie Vineyards

When to go

Eyrie receives guests year round by reservation, so timing turns on what is in the glass rather than whether the door is open. McMinnville also hosts the International Pinot Noir Celebration, first held there in 1987 by the Oregon Wine Board's record.

Practical details

Booking required: the tasting room at 935 NE 10th Avenue, McMinnville, Oregon 97128 takes reservations daily, first seating 11:00 and last seating 15:00, on (503) 472-6315. Tastings are USD $40 per person, refundable against a purchase of $120 per person (August 2026). No food service is advertised.

Getting there

The visitor address is in McMinnville, not among the vines. Eyrie farms in the Dundee Hills and receives guests at the McMinnville winery, a short walk from the town's restaurants. The Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association places that AVA 28 miles southwest of Portland, where Domaine Drouhin Oregon and Sokol Blosser farm.

About The Eyrie Vineyards

What to do there

4 things to do

David Lett planted Pommard and Wädenswil clones - taste wine from original vines.

Book the Exploration Flight ($20, 7 wines). Ask specifically for wines from the original 1965-planted vines if available. The Original Vines Pinot Noir is made from Lett's original Pommard clone plantings. Tell them you're on the Pinot Noir Pilgrimage - they love it.

Log Memory
The winery displays memorabilia from the legendary Paris and Beaune tastings.

In the tasting room, look for the framed competition results and letters from Robert Drouhin. Ask staff about 'The Eyrie Tasting of 1979' - there's often a staff member who can recount the full story. The 0.2-point margin that changed wine history.

Log Memory
David Lett's son Jason now runs the winery - he sometimes works the tasting room.

Ask if Jason Lett is in today. He's the winemaker and often engages with visitors. If he's not there, staff can share stories. Jason continues his father's light-handed winemaking style - discuss the philosophy of not following trends.

Log Memory
David Lett also planted America's first Pinot Gris - try both varieties.

Request Eyrie Pinot Gris in your flight. Lett planted the first Pinot Gris in the US (1966). Comparing his Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris shows his philosophy - both are about elegance, not power.

Log Memory

Insider tips

February 22 is 'Eyrie Day' - the day Lett planted his first vines in 1965 (2025 marks 60 years)
The McMinnville location is a working winery, not a fancy tasting room - that's intentional
David Lett died in 2008 but his philosophy lives on: 'Color is not an indicator of quality in Pinot noir'
The International Pinot Noir Celebration is held annually in McMinnville on the last weekend of July

Sources

eyrievineyards.com dundeehills.org oregonwine.org · checked August 2026