Kelley Fox, Durant Chardonnay 2021

The beautiful and historic Durant Vineyard was planted in 1973 by the Durant family, who continue to both live there and farm there. They are wonderful people, and it’s a dream come true to make wine from their vineyard. Durant Vineyard is on the southern slopes of the classic Dundee Hills neighbouring Domaine Drouhin. The Dundee Hills for a very long time has been referred to as the “heart of the wine country”. Though the soil there is volcanic with silt, clay, and loam (“Jory”), the Lark Block, the source of my Durant Chardonnay, is from a block of vines planted on a small parcel of unusual ancient marine soil in 1991. Just across the gravel road from the Lark Block is their olive orchard, and if you haven’t tried Durant olive oil, I highly recommend it. I love that olive trees border this block within the vineyard, too. Some of you know how much I love working with flower essences and with vines bordering trees. The olive flower essence is cited to “bring peace, regeneration, and restored balance” to the weary and exhausted. The Lark Block is planted to Dijon 76, known in Burgundy for producing nervy, finely-balanced, and elegant Chardonnay.

Kelley Fox Wines is a small winery created in 2007 along with Kelley's father, Gerson "Gus" Stearns. Though she has lived in the Willamette Valley for over 32 years, Kelly finds herself loving Oregon more and more every year. The first vintage (2007) started with just over 100 cases. The annual case production is now around 5000 cases, from vineyards including the historic Maresh Vineyard, Hyland Vineyard (1988 Coury Clone Pinot), Freedom Hill Vineyard (barrel-fermented Pinot blanc, Pinot noir, and Chardonnay), Weber Vineyard(1983 and 1988 Pinot), Durant Vineyard (Chardonnay and Pinot gris), Dux Vineyard (Chardonnay), Carter Vineyard (1982 old vine), and Canary Hill Vineyard.

She has been a full-time, year-round, on-the-floor Oregon Pinot noir winemaker since 2000. Education includes a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology from Texas AM University. Graduated Magna Cum Laude with dual degrees in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University and was admitted to the PhD program in Biochemistry.