Wine
Connect the Dots
Burgundy, Willamette Valley, and Yarra Valley
February 12, 2024
Here at Sommsation, we’re big believers that exploring and discovering new wines is just as exciting as drinking a wine we already know and love. We’re thrilled to announce our launch of Connect the Dots, a new series focused on introducing curious wine lovers to places, people, and bottles that we’re confident you’ll love. With this series, our expert team will explore the links that render three top viticultural regions similar, namely due to the areas’ related terroir specifics, signature winemaking styles, and above all, the shared mentality of quality-focused, independent producers as the thread that ties it all together.
To kick off the series, we’re connecting the dots between Burgundy, the Willamette Valley, and the Yarra Valley. While unique in their own right, these three viticultural regions actually have a lot more in common than you may think—and if you tend to love wines from one, you’ll likely enjoy a good number of wines from one of the others.
The Regions: Burgundy, Willamette Valley, and Yarra Valley
Before diving into what links these three regions together, let’s take a look at each one individually, starting with Burgundy. Located in eastern-central France, this historic region is deemed the holy grail for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—and is also credited as the unofficial birthplace of the concept of terroir, thanks to the region’s incredibly site-specific designations. Winemaking here dates back to around 50 BC, though its modern-day story begins during Renaissance times, thanks to the hard vineyard work and cellar efforts executed by the Benedictine Monks.
Over in the USA, the Willamette Valley has garnered serious international attention for its world-class Pinot Noirs. Stretching from the Columbia River to just south of Eugene, the Willamette Valley covers over 5,360 square miles, rendering it the largest AVA in the state of Oregon. The area first received AVA status in 1984; since then, over 10 sub-AVAs have been classified within this highly regarded growing area—which is now home to over 500 wineries!
Though lesser known, in the “land down under,” the Yarra Valley is also highly regarded for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, though the emphasis tends to fall on the latter. The Valley was the first region in Victoria to be planted with vines, though in 1937, the entire region was converted to dairy farms due to the outbreak of phylloxera. The region’s modern-day viticultural story begins in the mid-1960s; since then, the area has become a hotbed for talented, terroir-focused growers looking to experiment with a number of grape varieties.
Terroir Specifics
France, Oregon, and Australia—couldn’t be more different, right? Actually, in the realm of terroir, Burgundy, the Willamette Valley, and the Yarra Valley have quite a bit in common. Burgundy and the Yarra Valley both experience a continental climate, characterized by hot summers and cold winters. While Willamette’s climate tends to be more moist and maritime, winters here are also quite cold, and summers are certainly hot! Both Burgundy and the Yarra Valley generally get between 750 to 900 mm of rainfall per year, with Willamette’s clocking in around 1,100 mm.
With regards to the earth, Burgundy is known for its signature clay-limestone soils; in the Yarra Valley, sandy loam dominates in the north, while younger, more volcanic soil is present in the south. Like the southern Yarra, the Willamette Valley’s vines are also majorly rooted in volcanic soils, which are referred to as Jory.
Grape Varieties
Above all, the thread that ties these three regions together is key varieties planted. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reign king across the board, namely due to each of the areas’ specific climates, soils, and overall terroir conditions that are conducive to the growth of these varieties. While Chardonnay is the key player in the Yarra Valley, it also accounts for the majority of plantings in Burgundy (around 51%), with Pinot Noir coming in second. In Willamette, however, the reverse is true; Pinot Noir accounts for about 60% of the area’s vineyards, though its Chardonnay is certainly on the rise. While dry, still wines account for the majority style in all three regions, sparkling wines are indeed produced across the board.
Note: At Sommsation, our focus remains on independently-owned, responsibly-farmed estates, high-quality producers Below, we’ve outlined a few benchmark producers to know from each of the above regions, as well as have selected three Sommsation Picks to get you started on your journey.
Wineries to Know
Burgundy Highlights
Burgundy is home to five main regions: Chablis, the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise, and the Mâconnais. While highly regarded producers are scattered across all five of these regions, the largest concentration is arguably found in the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, which together, is often referred to as the Côte d’Or (which appropriately translates to ‘gold coast’). Some highly regarded family estates across both of these areas include Domaine Dujac, Domaine Leroy, Domaine Georges Roumier, and Domaine Jacques Frédéric Mugnier, though there are so many—that is, well over 100—more.Yarra Valley Highlights
Although much younger than Burgundy, the Yarra Valley is home to a number of quality-focused, family-owned estates that are pioneering top-tier wines from the region. A few well-known highlights include Yering Farm Wines, Helen & Joey Estate, Mac Forbes, and Seville Estate.
Sommsation Pick: Yering Station
Founded in 1996 by CEO and winemaker Darren Rathbone, Yering Station’s mission has always been to make top-quality wine that speaks to the place from which it comes. Nearly three decades later, the wines have soared to new heights, and are continuing to break ground in Australia’s Yarra Valley. At Yering Station, all wines are fermented with native yeasts and matured in French oak, as the estate believes that this combination “further highlights the wines’ inherent cool climate characters.” Today, winemaking is spearheaded by Brendan Hawker and Amanda Flynn, who work alongside Darren to carry on the vision of Yering Station’s wines.Shop Yering Station Wines
Willamette Valley Highlights
The Willamette Valley’s renowned status for Pinot Noir is directly tied to its solid number of quality-forward, family-owned wineries that continue to elevate the region’s status. This region also holds a special place in our Sommsation’s community, beyond our six independent winery partners that call it home—it’s where our Lead Sommelier got her start in the wine world. A few regional pillars include Archery Summit, Bergström Wines, Evening Land Vineyards, and Antica Terra.
Sommsation Pick: Alexana
Alexana is the brainchild of Dr. Madaiah Revana, a young and ambitious Indian immigrant who settled in the United States in the early 1970s. While at a conference in Napa in 2005 (where Dr. Revana was representing his eponymous Napa-based estate), Revana met Lyn Penner-Ash, proprietor of Penner-Ash Wine Cellars. The two’s shared passion for Pinot Noir—and belief that the Willamette Valley’s growing conditions could create bottles that stood up to those from Burgundy—was the impetus for Alexana’s creation. As of 2022, Tresider Burns has held the prestigious role of head winemaker at the estate, with Dr. Revana’s pioneering spirit still at the helm of the winery’s ventures.
