Columbia Gorge, Oregon
98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Riesling/Gewurztraminer/Early Muscat/Sauvignon Blanc
12.5%
Certified Organic
Founded by husband-and-wife duo John House and Ksenija Kostic in 2011, Ovum is a celebration of the diverse expressions of Oregon Riesling. After years of learning the intricacies of the Willamette Valley while working together at Chehalem, John and Ksenija set off to further investigate the myriad terroirs of Oregon through the lens of Riesling, and now source fruit from through the state. They have found sites with blustery Pacific winds, extreme diurnal shifts, and rocky, well-draining soils.
To emphasize the idiosyncrasies of these vineyards, all of Ovum’s wines see the same practices in the cellar: natural fermentations, no additions or subtractions except for SO2, extended lees contact of 8-9 months – all in neutral barrels of acacia and oak, as well as Nomblot concrete eggs. The resulting wines are textured and concentrated, driven by minerality, and framed by unwavering acidity. Ovum’s work is among the most compelling white winemaking we have encountered in our search throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• Single vineyard in Columbia Gorge AVA planted in 1983
• 300 ft. elevation
• Mazama ash and loess soils
• Destemmed and soaked 8 hours on skins before a light pressing
• Native yeast fermentation
• Full malolactic completed
• Nothing added except SO2, 40 ppm total
• Unfined and unfiltered
