King Estate Becomes Largest Biodynamic Estate in the Country

This fall King Estate became America's largest Biodynamic estate, converting its 465 acres from organic to Biodynamic certification.

I've interviewed the folks behind this great achievement, proprietor Ed King III and director of viticulture and winery operations Ray Nuclo and am planning to publish those interviews in the near future.

But for now, enjoy this video from King Estate, released this week, which gives you an overview of what's up for this southern Oregon powerhouse!

 

The winery makes two estate wines from organic (and, in coming vintages, Biodynamic) vines - its Domaine Pinot Gris and Domaine Pinot Noir. It also produces single vineyard designates of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir with grapes it buys from Croft, a certified organic vineyard.

The 1,000 acre property is located in Eugene, Oregon, at the edge of the Willamette Valley AVA, and was founded by Ed King's grandfather, who purchased the land in 1991.

Today's it is Oregon's largest producer, making 400,000 cases of wine a year, almost all of which is sourced from a combination of organic estate vines mixed with purchased grapes (not from organic vineyards). About 5,000 cases are from organic grapes.

While it makes significant amounts of Pinot Noir, it's best known for Pinot Gris, which is one of the most widely served wines in U.S. restaurants. The winery has been a Wine & Spirits Top 100 Winery eight times.

In addition to its estate vines, the winery is also now certified Biodynamic. Future vintages of estate wines will be labeled "Made with Biodynamic Grapes," beginning with the 2016 Domaine Pinot Gris.