Gary Andrus launched Archery Summit in 1993, infatuated by Pinot Noir and the capacity the Willamette Valley seemed to have for it. The Dundee Hills in particular caught his eye, because it shares similar growing conditions with Burgundy, France, and some of the most acclaimed Pinot Noir vineyards on earth. A veteran winemaker with a résumé full of award-winning Napa Valley wines, Andrus sharpened his craft at sister winery Pine Ridge Vineyards. He founded that label in 1978, going on to specialize in vineyard-designate wines, tied tightly and evocatively to the sites they pulled from.
This wine bursts from the glass, with zesty grapefruit followed by fresh and floral aromatics. The juicy acidity plays a major role, bringing balance to the wine and perfectly offsetting the salinity. Combining ripe orchard fruit and a touch of sea breeze, the 2023 Vireton Pinot Gris is crisp, lively, and tremendously refreshing.
