Lower Long Tom | WineMaps

Lower Long Tom AVA takes its name from the Long Tom River, which runs along the eastern boundary of the proposed AVA. The proposed AVA is located along the “lower,” or downstream, portion of the river, between Fern Ridge Lake and the Willamette River. The topography of the proposed AVA is characterized by chains of rolling hills separated by west-east trending valleys that were cut by the tributaries of the Long Tom River. Elevations range from approximately 1,000 feet along ridgelines on the western edge of the proposed AVA boundary to approximately 550 feet before dropping to the Willamette Valley floor. The steepest slope angles are about 45 percent, with the average slope angle being about 20 percent. To the west of the proposed Lower Long Tom AVA are the high, rugged elevations of the Coast Range, which rise to over 3,000 feet. East of the proposed AVA are the lower, flatter elevations of the Willamette Valley floor. South of the proposed AVA are Fern Ridge Lake, the watershed of the upper Long Tom River, and a series of hills with lower elevations than are found in the proposed AVA. To the north of the proposed AVA, the elevations descend to the floor of the Willamette Valley.

The most common soils in the proposed AVA are Bellpine and Bellpine/Jory complex. Bellpine soil is derived from decomposed sedimentary marine uplift over a sandstone or siltstone substrate. These soils are relatively shallow and well-drained. The Bellpine/Jory complex combines sedimentary and volcanic components and has a slightly greater depth and water-holding capacity than the Bellpine soils. Soils north of the proposed Lower Long Tom River AVA are primarily Jory soils. To the east of the proposed AVA, soils are described as deep alluvial river bottom soils. South of the proposed AVA, the soils are mostly Bellpine, as are found in the proposed AVA, but without the Bellpine/Jory complex. The predominate soils west of the proposed AVA are from the Witzel and Ritner series, which are both derived from decomposed igneous and contain varying amounts of rocks and cobbles.

Prairie Mountain, a tall mountain in the Coast Range due west of the proposed AVA, blocks cool Pacific air from entering the proposed Lower Long Tom AVA. Instead, the marine air flows into the regions to the north and south of the proposed AVA. As a result, growing season temperatures within the proposed AVA are generally warmer than in regions that are more exposed to the cool marine air. From 2012 to 2016, the average harvest date for Pinot Noir grapes within the proposed AVA ranged from September 17 to September 26. By contrast, the regions to the north and south of the proposed AVA, which are more exposed to cool marine air, generally have later harvest dates. From 2012 to 2016, the average harvest date for Pinot Noir grapes grown in the region north of the proposed AVA ranged from September 24 to October 2, while harvest dates to the south ranged from September 27 to September 28.