The 2006 growing season was for the most part warm and long. Hot temperatures at the end of September and into October created spikes of sugars which meant that fruit was harvested extremely ripe, much like 2003. Unlike 2003, the fruit was physiologically ripe and seed and skin tannins (as well as stems) were ripe and balanced.

Sunburn in certain vineyards meant that we had to spend more time in vineyards removing green and burnt berries by hand. This operation was extremely delicate and costly, where all 12 of Bergstrom’s crew members were in the vineyards with tweezers and needle-nose scissors removing individual green berries from otherwise ripe clusters.

2006 also saw the largest crop we have experienced in Oregon for a very long time. Natural yields were enormous and we had to pass through our vineyard rows several times to eradicate excess crop. One cluster per viable shoot in our vineyards usually measures out to be around 1.5 tons per acre…. In 2006 one cluster per viable shoot was close to 4 tons to the acre due to the size and weight of the clusters!!!

The result is an abundance of delicious wine from a great vintage that should, for the most part, be drunk over the next 5-7 years. Large-scaled opulent wines with silky tannins and succulent fruit profiles. In short, yummy wines to have fun with while they are young (with some exceptions which should prove to age well for 10 years)