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Friday, August 9, 2024

Biggest Biodynamic Vineyard in U.S.–Oregon's King Estate–Gets Even Bigger, Growing to 535 acres


America's largest biodynamic grower/winery is adding 70 more acres


King Estate is already the great big granddaddy of biodynamic growers in the state of Oregon–a state that, thanks to its Burgundian role model cousins, has more than half of America’s biodynamic vines. Oregon’s biodynamic plantings are still growing as successful producers expand (King Estate, Cooper Mountain) and a few new vineyards are in the process of getting biodynamic certification.

King Estate is getting bigger with 2022 the purchase of the 70 acre Pfeiffer vineyard, 30 miles north of the southern Willamette Valley estate.

(Although Ehrenfried Pfeiffer was a key person in the biodynamic movement, the name of the vineyard is purely coincidental.)

A press release from the winery states:

“Pfeiffer was our first contracted vineyard in 1992. Planted in Bellpine and Dupee soils rich in silty clay and silt loam, the vineyard’s 28 acres of pinot gris and 42 acres of pinot noir sit on a southward-facing slope and are privileged to enjoy long sun exposure during the summer months. Pfeiffer is considered a warm site for Oregon. The vineyard was planted by the Pfeiffer family in the early 1980s.”

The winery is going through the three year process of becoming biodynamic certified, which means adding tons and tons and tons of biodynamic compost, among other things. They could be certified as soon as the 2025 harvest.


For more on the story visit our new substack newsletter on biodynamic vines and wines

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