Soter Vineyards, Willamette Valley | 538 Wine Notes

Soter Vineyards is a culmination of many years of study and preparation. Tony Soter first arrived in the Napa Valley in 1975 and has since been fascinated with everything wine from the farming to the winemaking. Tony first founded Etude Wines in 1982 and by the mid-80s he was consulting for such names as Araujo, Niebaum-Coppola and Shafer, to name a few. After years of mentoring and encouraging some of Napa Valley’s most respected growers and winemakers, he ended his consulting role to focus exclusively on Soter Vineyards, Etude and his family. Tony has since sold Etude and dedicates all his energy to the Soter label and his new 250-acre ranch.

Michelle Soter is the other half of the puzzle. After 10 years in the Advertising and Marketing field, she moved into promoting wine. She spent six years marketing the wines of Moraga Vineyards in Bel Air, yes that Bel Air. During this time, she developed a sincere interest in the environmental movement, focusing on nutrition and organic farming. This interest has carried over to the Soter wines.

James Cahill has 10+ years under his belt in the Oregon wine industry and is now the winemaker at Soter Vineyards after a long stint with Beaux-Freres.

The Soter’s have long been committed to sustainable farming. Planet Oregon is their chance to make wines for a broader audience and make a bigger positive impact on the planet. Grapes are sourced only from Certified Sustainable vineyards and bottle in a Certified Sustainable winery.About a quarter of the blend is fruit from Ribbon Ridge with the remainder from various other areas of Oregon. The grapes are 20% whole-cluster fermentation in French Oak (93% used) and small stainless steel barrels with malolactic fermentation taking place in barrel. 

James Suckling 92 points:
"Fresh and bright aromas of strawberries and flowers follow through to a medium to full body, fine and juicy tannins and a savory finish. A beauty. From environmentally sustainable grapes. Drink or hold.”

The Planet Oregon Mission: “THINK PLANET: We are committed to this planet and our place in it. We live and work in the agricultural heartland of Oregon, and are responsible for the care of this place and what we are given from it. That is why we grow our grapes in the most sustainable way we can. And when we harvest them, we create wine in a place where we monitor carbon emissions, energy use, and waste production.

DRINK OREGON: Oregon is the cutting edge of the American beverage industry. People here have given up everything to pursue producing the best wine, beer, cider, and spirits in the United States. When you purchase a beverage made in Oregon, you can guarantee it was made from local products by people striving to make their voice heard on the shelf and in your home.

GIVE BACK: In our work, we labor with the earth to create our products. It is our responsibility to give back accordingly. We farm sustainably, harvest with care, and craft with conscience. We support organizations like-minded in their work. That is why proceeds from Planet Oregon go to support the Oregon Environmental Council.”