Our Vineyard

Holmes Gap Vineyard, planted in 2006 in Willamtte Valley's breezy Van Duzer Corridor, is a grower of premium grapes for sale and the maker of limited, classic Oregon Pinot Noir. The La Rue family personally farms this small slice of heaven and sustainably manages the land. Blocks are planted on southeast facing slopes, ranging from 200 to 450 feet in elevation and are LIVE certified and Salmon Safe.

Upper Block: The Upper Block, ranging up to 300’ elevation, is planted to Pommard Pinot Noir on 3309C rootstock. The Pommard clone of Pinot Noir was one of the first clones grown in Oregon. It is considered as a backbone of Oregon Pinot Noir. It has characteristic aromas of blue/black fruits, Marionberries, spice, earth and stone fruits such as plums. It is known for its good color, great structure in both width and length. This block is comprised mainly of Helvetia silt loam soils with areas of Chehulpum.

Lower Block: The Lower Block, ranging from 270’ to 200’ elevation, is also planted to Pommard Pinot Noir on 3309C. 3309C is one of the preferred rootstocks for growing premium wine grapes and accounts for 45% of the rootstock used here. It is resistant to the diseases commonly found in older Oregon vineyards, has a good capacity for developing a strong, deep root structure, and is a low-vigor rootstock. The soils in this block are mainly Woodburn silt loam soils, with Chehulpum at the top of the block and some Helvetia in the lower portion. The Lower Block has the highest organic matter and therefore contains some of our most fertile soil. Vigor management differs greatly from its neighboring Upper Block.

Charity Block: This 1.7 acre plot was planted to Pinot Gris (152 on 101-14MG rootstock). Soil type is mainly Helvetia silt loam. These soils with a depth up to 72” are moderately well drained with a high water holding capacity.

Holmes Gap a history lesson

Our goal in establishing the vineyard was to retain, to the best of our ability, the wonderful natural beauty of the surrounding area. In researching the local geographic history we discovered that our planned vineyard property lies very close to a special local landmark, the “Holmes Gap” and therein lies the selection of our vineyard name.

Holmes Gap and the adjacent Holmes Hill were named in honor of Horatio Nelson Viscount Holmes and the property he owned surrounding them. Horatio, born in Virginia in 1813, moved to Illinois and married Nancy Porter in 1837. In 1848, Horatio, Nancy and their three children made the early pioneer journey to Oregon. Horatio led his family, their wagon and oxen team to his 640 acre land claim located 3 miles south of the community of McCoy in the Willamette Valley. Here he built a small cabin and started his Oregon adventure.

Holmes Gap is the area south of McCoy Junction (between Amity and Rickreall) where today the railroad crosses Highway 99W. In the past, Holmes Gap was used as a geologic landmark by the early settlers traveling from the port city of Portland to the capital city of Salem. It was said that “one should pass through Holmes Gap then head East at the river to reach Salem”.

Horatio and his family worked hard developing a prosperous farm consisting of both agricultural crops and livestock. In 1854 Horatio found a small outcropping of coal on his land and initiated an effort to commercially mine the product. He was instrumental in creating the rights for a new railway intended to carry coal from his land the community of Cincinnati (now Eola) which claimed to be at the time, “the head of navigation on the Willamette River”. The railroad was chartered by the Territorial Legislature in 1854 as the “Cincinnati Railroad Company” and the the sale of shares was authorized. Unfortunately the coal was soon found to be of poor quality and was never mined. The railroad was never built.

Horatio was very involved in state politics and served three terms as a member of the Oregon Territory, House of Representatives, for Polk County as well as a Representative for both Polk and Tillamook Counties.

During this period, Horatio and his family continued to develop their farm property. They built a large multi-storied period home near Holmes Hill. In an article from the December 5, 1918 “Oregonian” the property was described as “the magnificent Holmes farm, not far from McCoy” and “one of the display places of the Willamette Valley”.

Horatio died in March of 1886 at the age of 72. His obituary, found in the Oregon Statesman (April 7, 1886), read;
HOLMES – At the residence of his son, Dr. H. R. Holmes, in this city, on Friday, March 26th, 1886, at 5 p.m. H.N.V. Holmes. Yes, kind readers, another pioneer’s feet have grown tired by the way, and he has, after 72 years of active life, lain down forever. Kind father, good neighbor, worthy citizen, true as steel to his friends, kind and generous to a fault, never deceived anybody, never went back on his word, met you over half way in good deeds and kind words. He will be buried Sunday the 28th, at the burying ground of his children, on the old George Gibson farm, on the hill north of Eola, Polk County, Oregon.

NOTE: His grave was later moved to the Pioneer Cemetery in Salem.

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