Happy summer, from all of the Compton team! Extended daylight means more hours to be tending to our vines and our farm, and also brings lots of fun events in the community to share our wines and connect with you out and about.

We have exciting farm news to share: Matt Compton finally got a baby girl! Welcome “Breve”, our new bottle-baby Jersey calf, named after Tabitha’s favorite espresso drink. One day in the long future we will have a milk cow. In the meantime, Breve the calf is learning about chickens, pigs, dogs, goats, sheep, and ducks on her daily in-hand farm walks with Tabitha. Breve even helped us pick the cherry trees before the June rain came. Just about 400 pounds of cherries were picked in one week. Speaking of farm fresh, we will be offering summer floral bouquets at the winery soon. For all of you who admire Tabitha’s floral arrangements in the tasting room, you will soon be able to take her farm fresh flowers home to enjoy.  

Since your last vineyard update in April, we have gone through the grape vines self-pollinating in May (cultivated vines are hermaphroditic), to flowering and fruit set that came on quickly with this recent blast of heat. Tabitha sent her flock of sheep into the Compton vineyard for a quick lawn-mowing graze and natural fertilizer spreading and then moved them out to the next pasture once they started nibbling leaves. Matt collects leaf samples for lab analysis to assess what nutrients the vines need and proactively treats each row accordingly, with natural materials like compost tea, fish emulsion, kelp meal, etc.  The rain we had in June was a helpful hydration boost as this spring season was drier than usual. All our vineyards are dry-farmed with the exception of limited irrigation for new plantings. 

On the subject of new plantings, Pinot Meunier and Pommard Pinot Noir were planted at Mary’s Peak Vineyard this spring. These grapes will be incorporated into our sparkling wine program in about 5 years when the fruit is ready. Mary’s Peak Vineyard holds a special place in our hearts and in our winery’s story. Matt started working with vineyard owner Rodger Kohnert in 2006 to help restore his Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris vines that were damaged in the severe freeze event of late winter 1989. Over the years since, Matt has learned a lot from Rodger’s experience as an O.G. (Original Grower) of Oregon wine. Rodger’s father, Arnold Kohnert a.k.a. “Mr. Pompadour” is recognized as a pioneer of Southern Oregon viticulture, sharing his extensive documentation of Ashland’s weather patterns and grape ripening cycles with other growers. Rodger helped his family plant their Rogue Valley Pompadour Vineyard in the early 80s. This was after Rodger had planted Mary’s Peak Vineyard with 2.1 acres of own-rooted Wädenswil Pinot Noir (from 1977-1980) along with Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. 

Let’s highlight another wine growing family featured in our summer wine club release, the Crofts. The Croft family moved from Alaska to Oregon in the early 80’s and started growing wine grapes in the Monmouth area of the Willamette Valley. Decades later, the third generation of Crofts are stepping into the lead. Our family business collaboration of over 13 years is a natural fit and we truly enjoy working with the Crofts. You’ll enjoy the results: Compton Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Share the Oregon wine love this summer and visit our friends at the Croft Tasting Room, Stomp, located across the river, northeast of the town of Independence. 

In the spirit of collaboration and celebration, we wish you a summer season full of gatherings with family and friends, outdoor adventures, delicious meals, and wonderful wines!

Cheers!  Matt and Tabitha Compton

Sauvignon Blanc, 2023 (2 & 6 Mix Clubs)
Make a spot in your summer picnic basket for a chilled bottle of Compton Sauvignon Blanc. Oregon grapes meet New Zealand style and it tastes like sunshine in a glass! 100% Willamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc, organically grown by our friends at family-owned Croft Vineyards.

Gewürztraminer, 2023 (6 Mix Club)
Lovely old-vine Gewürztraminer from Mary’s Peak Vineyard made in a classic off-dry style. Don’t be shy to say it out loud: “ge-vurz-tra-me-ner”. This aromatic grape with a German name serves up a heady blend of floral, fruit and spice with just a wisp of sweetness.

Concrete Egg Chardonnay, 2019 (6 Mix Club)
Classic Oregon Chardonnay, crisp and refreshing. Old vine Chardonnay from the Compton Estate and Hoot & Howl Vineyard is whole-cluster pressed and placed in our concrete egg tank to ferment and age. Concrete allows for a slow, cool fermentation with the wine circulating on the lees for a round, creamy mouth feel without any use of oak.

Mary’s Peak Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2021 – 92 Rating (All clubs)
We reserve this special small-lot wine for our wine club members and our Tasting Room guests. Mary’s Peak Vineyard was planted between 1977 and 1980 to the Wädenswil clone of Pinot Noir. Situated on East-facing slopes of alluvial, sedimentary loam soil, and in the rain shadow of the highest mountain in the Oregon Coast range, this dry-farmed vineyard consistently grows top quality Pinot Noir. Allow some time for this delicate wine to breathe and open up in your glass.

Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022 – NEW, 92 Rating (6 Mix & 6 Red Clubs)
We haven’t bottled our own Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir since 2011, and this new 2022 vintage is tasting so delicious that you may be a bit miffed we made you wait so long. Organically grown 100% Pinot Noir clones including Pommard, Wädenswil,115, 777 and 667 from seven small, dry farmed vineyards located in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Critic Paul Gregutt describes this vintage as “a tasty, focused wine which should drink well through the rest of the decade and beyond”

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 2022 – 90 Rating
(2 Red, 6 Mix, 6 Red Clubs)
This vintage of our popular Garden Series Pinot Noir is a blend of old-vine Pommard, Wädenswil and Dijon 115 pinot noir from our three vineyards off of Llewellyn Road south of Corvallis/Philomath: Compton, Hoot & Howl, and Mary’s Peak Vineyard. We aged this wine for 10 months in 20% new french oak barrels before bottling. “Peppery red berries, a hint of watermelon, firm tannins and decent length make this a perfect every day Pinot Noir” – Paul Gregutt

2 MIX CLUB
Sauvignon Blanc, 2023
Mary’s Peak Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2021 92 Rating

2 RED CLUB
Mary’s Peak Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2021 92 Rating
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 2022 90 Rating

6 MIX CLUB
Sauvignon Blanc, 2023
Gewürztraminer, 2023
Concrete Egg Chardonnay, 2019
Mary’s Peak Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2021 92 Rating
Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022 NEW, 92 Rating
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 2022 90 Rating

6 RED CLUB
Mary’s Peak Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2021 (x2) 92 Rating
Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2022 (x2) NEW, 92 Rating
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 2022 (x2) 90 Rating