Ovum Wines, Riesling 2021 "Off the Grid", Cedar Ranch Vineyard, Cave Junction, Southern Oregon, OR

This highly aromatic, Alsatian-style Riesling is bursting with aromas of citrus and stone fruit, along with some smoky minerality. It’s juicy and concentrated, and great alone or with food. 400 cases produced.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: Oregon

APPELLATION (AVA): Rogue River Valley

REGION: Illinois Valley

SUBREGION: Cave Junction

VINEYARD: Cedar Ranch Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2021

GRAPES: Riesling

SOIL: Sandy, Alluvial clay

PRACTICE: Dry-farmed, sustainable

VINIFICATION: Soak raisinated berries with whole clusters and ferment to dryness. Aged it in cement egg, Austrian oval cask and acacia barrels.

PRODUCTION: 400 cases produced.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Deep yellow

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Smoky, mineral, salty wet rock, yellow plum, ripe apple

FLAVOR: Ripe nectarine, citrus rind, grapefruit, thyme

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 13.5%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve chilled. Have it pull double duty and serve with coq au Riesling, a braised chicken dish from Alsace. 

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Ksenija and John House

“Established in 2011 by Ksenija and John House, Ovum was founded in hopes of producing Oregon wines that are honest reflections of time and place.  Our low intervention production method is a commitment to letting the vintage and vineyard shine, not the vintner.  Fruit comes first - our top priority is finding farmers that share our beliefs, and then getting out of the way so their hard work can be tasted.

“Native ferments, no subtractions or additions, except for SO2 - extended lees contact 8-9 months, for textural complexity. All of this is done in neutral barrels of acacia and oak, as well as cement egg and Austrian cask.  Ovum is committed to the exploration of Oregon’s wine growing regions by producing transparent wines of place.  We remain open minded to embracing the diversity of Oregon, and will offer small production red wines given the time and place.

“At Ovum, each wine is produced the same way - if the wine smells and tastes different, it has everything to do with terroir, and little to do with the winemaker.  Our hope is that through our attention to detail and honest technique, we can produce old fashioned wines in the modern world.” (ovumwines.com)

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: Cedar Ranch Vineyard

“The vineyard itself is fascinating - it has similarities to the river stone studded Rhone Valley, but has a climate more akin to Alpine regions in Austria. Just before harvest, the high elevation foothills that surround the vineyard pour foggy, cool air into the rows, which promotes botrytis. Consequently we soak those raisinated berries with the whole clusters, and eventually ferment them to dryness.  All of it amounts to an intensely aromatic Riesling, with tight knit structure and acidy, and lots of dry extract on the palate.  Aging it in cement egg, Austrian oval cask and acacia barrels help promote its exotic character.” (Ovum Wines)

ABOUT THE LABEL: The label is an old map/drawing of Lewis & Clark's exploration of Oregon.  It echoes Ovum’s desire to explore the potential of Oregon within grape growing, namely via Riesling.