The Pursuit of a Dream

Seven of Hearts features wines from distinct appellations within Oregon's Willamette Valley and neighboring regions, including specific vineyards and portions of vineyards that show unique characteristics.  Using traditional winemaking methods, our goal is small production wines of great purity, complexity, and elegance. 

What's Happening Now

Finally, after many unofficial pours, it's time to properly release Seven of Hearts newest wine:  Chatte d'Avignon Viognier & Roussanne, Columbia Valley.  A blend of 75% Viognier, providing nice tropical aromatics, and 25% Roussanne, giving the wine structure and balancing acidity to round out the wine.  An ideal wine for the summer BBQ as well as fine dining, this wine has the complexity and depth to pair well with a broad array of foods: from pasta with shellfish and saffron to hearty fare from the grill, herb roasted chicken, and pulled pork.

Similar to the original Seven of Hearts label, which symbolizes our passion for the traditional Burgundian style of Pinot noir, the Chatte d'Avignon label was inspired by the great white wines of the Chateauneuf du Pape region of France.  The label itself is named after a friendly and memorable country cat we met at a farmhouse we stayed at in Avignon during our last trip to the region to learn more about the wines.  The cat perfectly symbolized the combination of grace, approachability and depth of personality of the wines we experienced while there.

Seven of Hearts will be participating in this years Carlton's Walk in the Park, a benefit for local charities combining world class artists, the regions most prestigious wineries, and local restaurants for one magical August weekend in Yamhill County's wine county. 

Now in its 6th year, Carlton's Walk in the Park promises to be bigger and better than ever.  Last summers's event hosted 70 artists and exhibitors and greeted nearly 5000 visitors.  As always, all profits benefit local areas charities.  Join us!

Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2, Wennerberg Park, Carlton.

Seven of Hearts Tasting Room in Carlton

217 West Main Street, Carlton (Get Directions)
Friday & Saturday, 1pm - 6pm
Sunday, Noon - 5pm
Custom wine-tasting chocolates from Honest Chocolates
For private tastings and special appointments, call 971-241-6548

Seven of Hearts Tasting Room & Honest Chocolates Kitchen

Now Pouring:

2008 Chatte d'Avignon Viognier & Roussanne
2007 Chardonnay Willamette Valley
2007 Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills
2007 Pinot Noir The Cost Vineyard
2007 Pinot Noir Crawford Beck Vineyard
2007 Pinot Noir Reserve
(ask and we still might be able to pour you our very limited 2006 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir)

Seven of Hearts Wine Club

After many requests from visitors at our Carlton Tasting Room, we have created the Seven of Hearts Wine Club!  Sign-up to receive twice yearly shipment of limited production wines and enjoy regular member discounts as well as other club benefits.  Our initial 2009 Shipment includes our four 2007 Eola-Amity Hills Pinot noirs.

From the Heart

Those of us who make Pinot noir tend to be pretty passionate about this grape, the wines, and the issues of style for this noble variety.  The passion leaks out into other things, which I'll occasionally touch on here.

5/31/09 - One Simple Measure of a Great Wine

With fine spring weather upon us and as many of us are out in the wine country to sample the local wine offerings, this seems a good time to share a personal view on assessing wine.  While there are a multitude of complex quantifiable, as well as difficult to articulate subjective approaches to assessing the quality of wine (all of which I recommend as they do add to the pleasure of wine), I have found one simple means assessing a great wine:  does it entertain you?  

Not just in one moment, but in the course of time.  And not only in the long years under uncertain conditions, but also in the short, the very short, and the medium timeframes that are the bulk of our experiences with our wines. Does it stand up to the introductory chat, the long engaging conversation over the course of multiple courses?  Is the second glass more engaging than the first, revealing more of itself (or has it gone flat, giving but a one note performance)?  Does the second sip tell you more because the initial sensory impact was too much to discern the many layers and textures?   Like a great movie, are there details and nuances that are revealed with each encounter?   And, does it captivate you the same way the second and third time you've tried it over the course of months?  Finally, does it evolve and change in complex ways in the timeframe that should be the natural course of transformation for that particular variety in the region and vintage from which it was produced? 

Wine is often said to contain many mysteries.  The scientific pursuit of wine endeavors to reveal these.  The fact that we are always discovering more suggests infinite possibilities and reveals the artistic element (both man and nature) that complements the science in the making of a great wine.  There is no end of mystery in a truly fine wine, and that is highly entertaining. 

Next topic:  Winemaking while moonwalking...

Prior "From the Heart" Posts
4/21/09 - Traditional Winemaking and What That Means
4/3/09 - Climate Change and Pinot Noir
2/15/09 - 2006 vs 2007 Oregon Vintages

Terry Peasley Pen & Ink Drawing - Luminous Hills Vineyard