Address
NW Cru, 325 NE Evans St, McMinnville, OR, USA
Phone
Hours
(Saturdays 11–5) and private tastings by appointment
Reservations
Yes
Address
NW Cru, 325 NE Evans St, McMinnville, OR, USA
Phone
Hours
(Saturdays 11–5) and private tastings by appointment
Reservations
Yes
A boutique winery in McMinnville founded by Tim and Denise Wilson with the 2009 vintage, producing roughly 1,000 cases a year. Tim holds a formal degree in enology and worked at wineries across several regions — Washington state, California’s Central Coast, and elsewhere — before settling in the Willamette Valley, drawn by Pinot Noir. He describes his path as beginning with the realization that an economics degree wasn’t leading anywhere fulfilling, followed by a cross-country journey through Fresno, Seattle, San Luis Obispo, and Eugene, with encouragement along the way from winemaking figures Mark Beringer and Bob Sessions.
Denison owns no vineyards. The model is instead built on relationships with small, sustainably farmed sites across the valley, with each wine made to express its particular vineyard. Early fruit came from J.L. Kiff Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton, expanding to include Johnson Ridge Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, Cassin Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton, and J Wrigley Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA. Production centers on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Rosé, Syrah, and other small lots appearing as well.
Saturdays 11 to 5 at NW Cru, 325 NE Evans Street in downtown McMinnville, or book a private tasting with Tim directly. For a private tasting, yes. The Saturday pour at NW Cru is open to the public. Often Tim or Denise themselves, which is the reason to make the effort. Single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay primarily, plus Rosé and Syrah in small lots. No — fruit is purchased from small family-farmed sites across several AVAs, which means a tasting covers a lot of ground geographically. Yes, and members speak warmly about the personal relationship that comes with it.
Common questions
Where can I taste?
Do I need an appointment?
Who pours?
What do they make?
Do they own vineyards?
Is there a wine club?
