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SAVORY SIPS: ÁRDÍRI

Tracy Onufer headshot

Tracy Onufer 

May 23 2023
Árdíri

Date of Visit:
Aug 20 2022

Address:
35040 SW Unger Rd, Cornelius, OR 97113

AVA:
Laurelwood District

Website:

www.ardiriwine.com 

THE PLACE

Árdíri is Sicilian for “taking a risk” and can also mean “being consumed by fire.”  Owner John Compagno bought the land, an existing vineyard, in 2008 and opened the tasting room in 2010. Estate-grown grapes are pinot noir, pinot gris, and pinot blanc. Árdíri produces wine from both this estate and the Los Carneros AVA in Napa Valley, California. 

Árdíri Winery and Vineyards is located in the Laurelwood District AVA of the Willamette Valley. The tasting room’s veranda is right next to a block of vines and offers sweeping views of the vineyard, countryside, and Mt. Hood if the weather is clear. In addition to offering charcuterie and cheese plates, guests can bring their own food, and four-legged friends are welcome too!  

Árdíri
Árdíri
Árdíri
Árdíri

THE BRAND

Árdíri’s logo is a DNA strand, which partly signifies John’s medical background, which included running a DNA lab. But it primarily signifies the pinot noir grape, which John describes as “genetically unstable in its phenotypic expression, so the grape that it expresses differs with mutations over the hundreds of years it has been on the vine.” John modeled the vineyard after Burgundy with meter-by-meter vine spacing. Of the estate’s 40 acres, 15.3 acres are planted with vines and farmed organically.

THE EXPERIENCE

Árdíri offers a red seasonal tasting flight (3 reds, 1 rosé) and a white tasting flight (4 wines). The $20 per flight tasting fee is waived with the purchase of two bottles. Wines can also be purchased by the glass or bottle. Reservations are required to enjoy the tasting flights but not to purchase a glass or bottle. 

THE WINE

  • Due Stati Pinot Noir ($45): Due Stati, or two states, represents the composition of this pinot noir blended from grapes grown in both Napa Valley and on the Árdíri estate. The blend percentage changes with each release and can include more than one vintage. The current version of Due Stati is 65% Carneros and 35% Árdíri estate, and it contains both 2018 and 2019 wines. The nose includes cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and hints of oak and cloves. On the palate are cherry and raspberry, with high acidity balanced by low to medium tannins. 
  • 2018 Estate Pinot Noir ($40): Raspberry and cherry dominate the nose, along with light pepper and floral notes. The palate also includes raspberry, cherry, and pepper, along with high acidity, soft tannins, a light body, and a medium finish. 
  • 2018 Carneros Pinot Noir ($40): This pinot noir from California is black fruit focused as compared to the red fruit focus in the estate pinot noir. Aromas include black cherry, black currant, prunes, and a hint of mushrooms and peppers. The wine has high acidity, low to medium tannins, a light to medium body, and a medium finish, with flavors matching the nose.  
  • 2021 Pink Tractor Rosé ($25): This is a dry rosé with aromas and flavors of strawberry and peach, and there is also rose and violet on the nose. The wine has medium acidity and a light body. 
  • 2020 Sauvignon Blanc ($30): This aromatic, light-bodied wine has notes including grapefruit, lime, green pepper, green apple, and a hint of peach. The palate is dominated by high acidity and flavors of grapefruit, lime, and green apple. 
  • 2018 Chardonnay ($39): This chardonnay was fermented in stainless steel, leading to a fruit-forward and dry wine. The nose is medium intensity, with citrus and green fruit notes. The palate includes green apple, pear, and lemon, and it is punctuated by medium to high acidity, a medium body, and a medium finish. 
  • 2019 Riesling ($30): This off-dry riesling sports aromas of pear, apricot, green apple, lemon, lychee, and quince. The flavors are pear, apple, and quince, with medium to high acidity, a light to medium body, and a medium finish. 
  • 2021 Chehalem Gold ($35): Chehalem Gold is a blend of estate pinot gris and pinot blanc grapes. The nose is light, with notes of peach, cantaloupe, and green apple. The wine is off-dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and flavors of peach, pear, green apple, and pineapple. 
  • 2021 Dolce Amante ($45): This estate wine is medium sweet with a lower alcohol content of 9.2%. Aromas include pear, green apple, cantaloupe, honeydew, and lemon. The wine has medium acidity and a medium body, with flavors of green apple, cantaloupe, and lemon. 

Best bottle for your next dinner party: 2021 Chehalem Gold

Best bottle to add to your wine cellar: Due Stati Pinot Noir 

THE HIGHLIGHT

The tasting room and veranda are among the most beautiful in the Willamette Valley and offer amazing views. 

THE TAKEAWAY

Árdíri is a great place to bring your family, dog, and a picnic to enjoy with their wines. 

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