Comment 12

Stoller
A FAMILY VINEYARD AND WINERY

Chief, Regulations and Procedures Division
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
P.O. Box 50221
Washington, DC 20091-0221
Attn:  Notice No. 14

02 October, 2003

To Whom It May Concern:

As wine growers in the proposed Dundee Hills AVA, I am writing to support the approval of said proposal.  It is our belief that the division of the Willamette Valley into more specific appellations will aid consumers when purchasing an unfamiliar brand of wine, and will help them to identify specific characteristics in the finisher product with wines from that particular region.

The area known fondly as “Dundee Hills” by local inhabitants and members of the wine industry is a region that is geographically distinct from its neighboring wine growing areas.  Visitors to the area are apt to notice the red, rocky volcanic soils that comprise the footprint of this area.  It is our belief that wines made from grapes grown on these distinctive soils reflect the area’s unique climate and geography accordingly.  In addition to volcanic soils, other distinctive features of the Dundee Hills include warmer nighttime temperatures, less frost, and less low-elevation fog than surrounding valleys.  These geographic features result in fruit that ripens earlier and more consistently than that of growers in neighboring regions.  Wines from Dundee Hills are characterized by sensuous, supple fruit flavors and slightly lower acid levels than those of our neighbors.

We thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Bill and Cathy Stoller
Stoller Vineyards