Embrace the flavors of autumn with our latest wine club selection. Each bottle has been meticulously chosen to capture the essence of the season, offering a journey through crisp orchard breezes and cozy harvest evenings. From rich, layered Pinot Noirs to smooth, aromatic whites, these new wines are the perfect complement to your autumn moments.

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir wines have been catching global attention, and for good reason. This is a wine you can enjoy year-round. What sets Sweet Cheeks Winery Pinot Noir apart is our aging process. While we still want to maintain the flavors and integrity of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, we age our Pinot Noirs for just a little longer – giving the wines more of a medium body. Our 2022 Estate Pinot Noir is aged for 17 months in French Oak: 65% new, 14% 2nd use, and 21% 3rd use. We cold-soaked the fruit for 4 days prior to fermentation to extract a depth of color and nuanced tannins. 

“One of my favorite times of the year is August. I arrive at the vineyard in the early (and cooler) morning hours and walk up and down the vines. Each part of our vineyard tells a different story, and it’s my job to piece together the chapters to deliver a wine that captivates you. The first block planted on our estate was in 1979 which we call our Grandpa Block. If you know Oregon wine history, you will know this is roughly five to ten years after our Willamette Valley wine pioneers started planting. At the time, we were planting vines based on recommendations of UC Davis – and they were still skeptical the Willamette Valley could successfully grow grapes. Our Grandpa Block is a Swiss clone called Mariafeld 23. This clone of Pinot Noir is resilient and produces dark colors and bright, fruity flavors with high acidity. If you are familiar with our wines, you will know our Wild Child Block. Don’t tell anyone, but this is one of my absolute favorite blocks within our vineyard. The Swiss Wädenswil clone, our Wild Child Block of Pinot Noir, brings more weight to the wine and showcases a spirit of spice and earthy characteristics. Last, but certainly not least, I rounded out the blend with our Pinot Noir from our Boss’ Block. This is the Dijon 777 clone – known for complex aromas and robust flavors. We renamed this block after we lost our Founder, Dan Smith, who I called Boss Man. This is the block you can see from the patio of our tasting room. It surrounds the oak tree where Dan stood and envisioned our winery. The 2022 vintage was off to a frightening start with a late frost, but our vines still produced high-quality fruit. This vintage is something to be savored. With the low yields, I recommend stocking up on this vintage to ensure you can enjoy it for years. Cheers.” 

Leo Gabica

“There’s nothing reserved about this beautiful wine. A wild blackberry aromas is accented by a saline note reminiscent of sea spray and a freshly shucked oyster shell lining. Leathery tannins provide ample support for the wine’s rich black cherry and dark chocolate flavors, with a wee bit of orange zest in the background. Enjoy with a Tito Puente record and lamb.” 

– Michael Albery, Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points. 

“Notes of cherry, dried herb, cinnamon, and flower. Creamy-feeling flavors follow, showing lovely balance.” 

– Sean P. Sullivan, Northwest Wine Report, 91 Points

“If you don’t have a full case of this wine in your home, make sure you fix that before you face heavy regret. I am excited about this wine. Exclusive in production, I showcased one of our partner vineyards: Davis Vineyards. They are only a few miles up the road from us (still in South Willamette Valley) but have a different profile than our estate vineyard. This vineyard has Bellpine soil and grows exclusively Pommard. This particular clone is known for notes of dark cherry and plum with elegant earthy undertones. I aged this wine for 18 months in French oak: 43% new and 57% 3rd use. I cold-soaked this wine for four days prior to fermentation to extract color and texture. As I mentioned, this is an exclusive production – be sure to stock up before it sells out.”

Leo Gabica

If you love Pinot Gris, our 2022 Estate Pinot Gris, meticulously hand-harvested from old vine plantings, will be your new favorite. The rows of vines we selected for this wine receive just a touch less sun exposure. This careful selection results in a wine with bright acidity, accentuated by vibrant citrus and juicy yellow peach flavors. A subtle hint of sea salt adds an intriguing touch, enhancing its refreshing and well-balanced profile. 

“The 2022 growing season produced outstanding quality; however, a late frost caused the yield to be low. If you see a 2022 vintage from the Willamette Valley, stock up. I’ve been hearing comments about how Pinot Gris is overlooked and unexciting. If you are in that camp, I invite you to try our 2022 Estate Pinot Gris. As a winemaker, my goal is to highlight the vintage and the varietal. Pinot Gris should tell a story, starting with the aromas, taking you through the first sip, and providing a lingering finish. We were intentional about the vines we harvested from for this wine, gently pressed the grapes to extract the juice, and fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures to preserve the aromatics and acidity. Enjoy the story of the 2022 vintage captured in this bottle. Cheers!” 

Leo Gabica

2022 Dry Riesling

Over the centuries of production, Riesling has undergone many transformations, and we are here for its resurgence. This varietal is often a favorite of highly esteemed sommeliers, yet it still faces the misconception that it is only overly sweet. This is a wine that we love to surprise guests within our tasting room – especially those who say out loud, “I hate Riesling; it’s so sweet!” Well, friends, this wine is here to show you the versatility of Riesling. You will smell the signature floral aromas of a Riesling, but as you take a sip – layers of crisp pear and a zip of lemon zest are followed by sparks of lemongrass. 

“We have been working with Foris Vineyards for 8 years. I enjoy the fruit profile from their vineyard site and how it blends with the acids we get from our vineyard. The Riesling comes from Foris’ Cedar Ranch vineyard site – they have been caring for the land for over 20 years before planting 47 acres of vines in 2008. They are the southernmost vineyard site in Oregon, just 8 miles from the California border. This allows the vineyard to soak in the warm sun with sandy loam soils. A contrast from our cool-climate site with Willakenzie soil. The 2022 vintage was a challenge in the beginning with a very late frost; however, the remaining growing season was near perfect, allowing the low yield to be stellar quality. Both our vineyard site and Foris were harvested at the end of October. We gently pressed the fruit to extract the juice, then fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures to preserve the aromatics and acidity.”

Leo Gabica

2023 Vintage Riesling

Sweet Club Release

Our Riesling vines, the first fruit to greet you on your journey to our winery, are nestled at our lowest elevation (720 feet) at the foot of our estate. This unique location allows the Riesling to maintain its stunning acidity. For the 2023 vintage, we meticulously hand-harvested each row of our Riesling to craft our 2023 Vintage Riesling. This wine offers bright layers of freshly picked white peach, vibrant notes of kiwi, and a splash of lime zest. 

“This is my go-to brunch wine. It pairs with sweet and savory dishes, specifically a dish with spice. I wanted to capture the aromatics and flavor profiles achieved in our vineyard. We are a cool-climate site that can retain refreshing acidity to balance the semi-sweetness from the fermentation process. My goal with this wine is to provide the classic floral aromas and nice sweetness but still be refreshing. Riesling is a wine that I feel is making a slow comeback in appreciation, and lucky for us – Riesling ages well. It can wait for its moment to shine, and those of us who have already discovered the brilliance of Riesling can enjoy it in the meantime.”

Leo Gabica
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