Eugene weekly., May 05, 2016, Page 45, Image 45

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weather, throughout a summer that should have been hotter and
drier. The warmer weather would have allowed the fruit to ripen
and to develop the naturally sweet, complex and earthy flavors
that we love about pinot.
So perhaps Abbelone’s warmer clime helps ensure a good
crop, buffering them from the fickle, fussy nature of the pinot
vine itself.
“We produce a bolder, bigger style pinot noir,” Ferry says.
Growing is step one. But becoming a vintner?
“Kristian makes all of the wine,” Ferry notes. “He is self-
taught.”
Kristian Ferry worked early on at Sineann Winery in St.
Paul, Oregon, and then learned locally from winemaker friends.
“And he continues to get local advice from them,” Ferry
says. “We have a great community of winemakers who help
each other out.”
While not certified biodynamic — which is a “spiritual-
ethical-ecological approach to agriculture” that proponents
suggest promotes a healthy self-sustainability — Abbelone
operates as such. “We put everything back into the vineyard
and use nothing that is inorganic,” Ferry says.
After nurturing the fruit for a few years, the Ferrys first
bottled their 2006 vintage, which was “a very small batch,”
R
WHILE NOT CERTIFIED
BIODYNAMIC — WHICH
IS A ‘SPIRITUAL-ETHICAL-
ECOLOGICAL APPROACH
TO AGRICULTURE’ THAT
PROPONENTS SUGGEST
PROMOTES A HEALTHY
SELF-SUSTAINABILITY —
ABBELONE OPERATES AS
SUCH. ‘WE PUT EVERYTHING
BACK INTO THE VINEYARD
AND USE NOTHING THAT IS
INORGANIC,’ FERRY SAYS.
Ferry says. “Then our wines started selling wholesale to local
super markets and wine shops with our 2009 vintage.”
Abbelone offers pinot noir, a rosé of pinot noir, a pinot noir
blanc, pinot gris and a syrah, made with fruit bought from the
Rogue Valley.
Abbelone’s ’14 gris has a light straw hue, smelling faintly of
melon and hay, with a bright, spicy flavor studded with green
apple, pear and fennel.
Their ’14 rosé has a bright petal color, a “slight hint of a
recently legalized herb” with grapefruit, rose petals, and morning
rain, cinnamon and carnations.
Their sultry ’13 noir is a rich cola color with notes of oak,
chocolate, cherry and pepper.
Abbelone’s ’13 syrah is complex, with hints of smoke, roasted
meats, currants and light jam.
“We are only sold locally in Eugene and on the coast right now,”
Ferry says. “All of the Market of Choice stores carry Abbelone,
and some bottle shops and a few restaurants, including Marché.”
If you can’t settle on a bottle, Ferry invites customers out for
a tasting. F
The Cellar at Abbelone Vineyard and the Vineyard Courtyard are open every week-
end Memorial Day through Labor Day, 5 to 9 pm Friday and Saturday, and noon
to 5 pm Sunday, at 85505 Christensen Road. To contact the tasting room, call 541-
344-6358.
GLASSES OF
A B B E LO N E ’ S
SUMPTUOUS PINOT
$15 OFF A with SERVICE
CALL
this coupon
THE OVERHEAD DOOR CO.
OF EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD
541-686-8144
www.overheaddoor-eugene.com
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