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.
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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.
Sources: eyrievineyards.comoregonwine.org
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.
Source: eyrievineyards.com
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.
Sources: eyrievineyards.comdundeehills.org
Good to know
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Languages
- English-friendly
What to do there
4 things to do
Insider Tips
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February 22 is 'Eyrie Day' - the day Lett planted his first vines in 1965 (2025 marks 60 years)
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The McMinnville location is a working winery, not a fancy tasting room - that's intentional
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David Lett died in 2008 but his philosophy lives on: 'Color is not an indicator of quality in Pinot noir'
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The International Pinot Noir Celebration is held annually in McMinnville on the last weekend of July