Corollary Wines in Amity, Oregon shines brightly as it strives to be among the best of the Willamette Valley's sparkling wine scene.
The Willamette Valley is ripe with rolling hills and windy dusting roads. But every once in a while, those roads take you to something completely unexpected.
That's certainly the case with Corollary Wines, a sparkling-only winery located deep in the Eola-Amity hills.
The drive to Corollary takes you well off the beaten path, and at times has you wondering whether you missed a hidden turn somewhere along the way (as we did!)
But eventually, you see it. Because it's hard to miss. A modern, angular, bright red beacon to sparkling wine — the Corollary tasting room that presides over 57 acres of what used to be a fir tree farm.
About Corollary Wines
Corollary Wines co-owners Dan Diephouse and Jeanne Feldkamp began their winemaking journey in 2016. Following successful careers in the Bay Area tech industry, they wanted to try something new.
So they bought 300 lbs of apples and made 5 cases of cider in their garage. Happy with the results, they decided to buy two tons of Pinot Noir grapes and produced their first batch of wine at a friend's urban winery.
From that moment on, they were hooked. The following year they moved to Oregon (Jeanne is originally from Beaverton) and began creating their first sparkling wines with the help of local winemakers.
By mid-2022, they had closed on the property that would become home to Corollary Wines. That began a nearly two-year process of prepping the land to plant their first 13 acres of vineyards. And to build their striking red, gorgeous modular tasting room.
Their vines include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier, all planted in October 2023. That means they won't be ready to produce wine for three to four years. In the meantime, Jeanne and Dan are sourcing from a handful of local vineyards to produce their sparkling wines. Currently, they make around 2,000 cases a year.
Corollary Sparkling Wines
When Marlynn and I visited Corollary in early June, we enjoyed a flight of their sparkling white and rosé wines.
One of our favorites was the 2019 X-Omni Blanc des Blancs ($75). Made with 17 clones of Chardonnay grapes from the same block, it features toasty brioche and buttery aromas, along with bright citrusy acidity and a delightfully surprising hint of marzipan.
Another standout was the 2020 Cuvée One Brut ($45). This delicious blend is composed of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc grapes selected from five vineyards in the Willamette Valley. It features primary hazelnut, lemon, and orange blossom aromas with pleasant minerality and zippy acidity.
If you're into sparkling rosé — and let's be honest, who isn't? — then try the 2020 Cuvée One Rosé ($55; pictured above). Made with 70% Pinot Noir and 15% each of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, it's loaded with red fruit flavors like strawberry and raspberry along with lemon and features a soft, refreshing finish. Perfect for a warm summer day!
Corollary Tasting Experience
The sleek, unique tasting room was truly a labor of love. Jeanne, an interior designer, teamed up with a local architecture firm to create the plans for the eye-catching facility.
They incorporated some sustainable and ingenious ideas, like a rainwater-collecting roof and a retracting metal screen alongside the outdoor tasting area. The latter helps keep the Van Duzer corridor winds at bay while you sit back and soak up the vineyard views.
After just nine months of construction, the sparkling new tasting room opened in May 2024. It can accommodate small, by-appointment-only group tastings and larger events upon request.
And Dan and Jeanne do pretty much everything, so that means you get a truly personal wine-tasting experience with the owners and winemakers - in an intimate setting with a picturesque, pinch-me-am-I-dreaming view.
Visiting Corollary Wines
Corollary Wines
6850 SE Sartore Road, Amity OR 97101
Standard tasting fee is $50 per guest. One tasting fee will be refunded with club signup or the purchase of 3 bottles.
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If you visit, please be sure to let them know that you read about it on Urban Bliss Life! And if you snap some pics, tag us @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
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