Evening Land Does It Again
Under the guidance of John Faulkner, Evening Land’s Salem Wine Company has become one of the greatest wineries in the Eola-Amity Hills. The philosophy is simple in theory but exacting in practice: great wine begins with the right site. Not just a good vineyard, but the right slope, the right exposure, the right soils, and, crucially in this part of Oregon, the right relationship to the Van Duzer Corridor, where cooling Pacific winds shape the growing season and preserve tension in the wines.
I’ve been following these wines for around fifteen years now with fascination. Each year new items are added to their portfolio, but always in small quantities, and always intentional and thoughtful. Evening Land’s vineyard holdings are not expansive, and that’s entirely the point. Farming is meticulous, yields are kept low, and production remains small. Every decision is geared toward transparency rather than manipulation. What you taste in the glass is not a winemaking signature layered on top but instead the vineyard, clearly expressed.
The Chardonnay from Eola-Amity Hills is a perfect example of this philosophy in action. There is a quiet confidence to it. It walks a beautiful line between precision and texture: citrus and orchard fruit wrapped in a subtle, almost saline, minerality with just enough structure to remind you this is a serious wine. The Chardonnay keeps unfolding as you sit with it.
The Pinot Noir carries that same sense of place but translates it through a different lens. This is Pinot that leans into elegance and detail. Red fruits, fine spice, and a floral aromatic profile sit atop a framework of acidity and finely grained tannin. There’s a natural vibrancy here driven by the cooling winds that define the Eola-Amity Hills. It’s immediately appealing.
Both of these wines, even at this entry level, speak to Evening Land’s core strengths: elite site selection and an unwavering commitment to quality over scale. These are small, intentional bottlings that reflect one of the most exciting vineyard sites in Oregon today.
If you’ve followed Evening Land as I have over the years, you already know how special these wines can be. If you haven’t,consider this your gateway into a brave new world.
90 Points, Wine Advocate
“The 2023 Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills is a new cuvée from Evening Land. Matured for 11 months in used French oak plus six months in stainless steel, it has inviting aromas of quince, Greek yogurt, toast and flint. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with ripe stone and orchard fruit and honeyed undertones. Vibrant acidity adds a shimmery quality, and it has a long, saline-laced finish. 2,950 cases produced.”
90 Points, Wine Advocate
“Matured in used oak, the 2024 Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills is bursting with scents of blueberry, pomegranate, damp earth and mushroom. The medium-bodied palate features generous berry flavors and has a soft, approachable texture. It’s balanced by bright acidity and has a long, floral finish. 4,588 cases produced.”