When Argyle was founded more than 30 years ago, the goal was to make sparkling wines that could stand alongside the greatest wines from Champagne. The belief was that the most profound and age-worthy expressions of sparkling wine needed to be grown in a true cool-climate region. Situated above the 45th parallel, and just between the protective rain shadow of Oregon’s Coast Range to the west and the majestic Cascade Mountain Range to the east, the Willamette Valley was selected as the ideal home for growing the world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir necessary for crafting great sparkling wine.

THE INSPIRATION

In the 1980s, founding winemaker Rollin Soles met legendary Bollinger vintner Christian Bizot while working in Australia. In the years that followed, Christian regularly visited Oregon to taste wines alongside Rollin. Deeply impressed by the remarkable quality of Argyle’s sparkling program, he suggested holding back a portion of Argyle’s vintage base wine to make a special “Extended Tirage” bottling similar to Bollinger’s own revered Recently Disgorged wines. The 2008 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut is the most recent in a long line of acclaimed releases that all started with this vision of quality and ageability.

SPARKLING OPPORTUNITIES

Today, the Argyle Tasting House in Dundee offers several options for sparkling wine drinkers (in addition to those interested in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling). Educational experiences like the Sparkling Wines Master Class, wine flight options to taste sparkling wine only, and a wine club option make the Argyle Tasting House in Dundee a must visit for any sparkling wine fan.

MAY IS OREGON WINE MONTH

Visit argylewinery.com for details on the following events: May 4–5: Release Weekend for 2017 Reserve Chardonnay
May 11–12: Mother’s Day Weekend
May 18–19: Release Weekend for 2015 Grower Series Blanc de Blancs
May 21–22: Showing of documentary film A Fine Line 
May 25–26: Memorial Day Weekend Open House

691 Hwy 99W, Dundee OR 97115
Argylewinery.com
(503) 538-8520