Every wine region loves to proclaim its most recent harvest as “exceptional,” “distinctive,” or even “the vintage of the century.” Oregon is no different. Yet when winemakers across the Willamette Valley call 2022 a “miracle vintage”, the evidence suggests this claim is more than marketing hype.
From near disaster in spring to a golden autumn that rescued the harvest, 2022 will be remembered not only for its wines’ exceptional quality but also for the resilience of the vines and the people who tend them.
From Freeze to Fruit
In April 2022, bitter frosts swept through the Willamette Valley, devastating newly formed buds and tiny grape clusters. For many growers, the damage seemed catastrophic.
“The secondary buds didn’t come out for four to six weeks after the freeze,” explained Brian Laing of Hazelfern Cellars. “We were afraid in 2022 that we wouldn’t even get the fruit ripe.”…