
The name of the vineyard and winery, Alloro, is the Latin and Italian
word for laurel — the evergreen plant said to symbolize immortality
in ancient times, and a symbol of peace and victory today. Alloro perfectly
suits the vineyard for many reasons: the vineyard is sited on Laurel
Ridge, in the Chehelem mountains just north of Newberg; its soil is
the fertile Laurelwood soil; and laurel can be found growing on many
parts of the property.
David Nemarnik, founder and vineyard manager, also chose
the name to recognize his family's long tradition of making wine. As
a child, he played on the wine press once owned by his great-grandfather,
Salvatore Dindia. Family trips to Italy and Croatia nurtured an appreciation
for the timeless way of life that his European relatives have embraced
for generations, one that celebrates wine as part of the culture. Alloro
is the fulfillment of a dream to create an artisan vineyard and winery
dedicated to the production of hand crafted world class Pinot Noir.
Finding the land on which to found Alloro was the culmination
of many scouting trips up and down the entire Willamette Valley. David
eventually found the site while searching the countryside by bicycle.
Les and Pearl Longway, who have lived just up the road from Alloro since
the 1940s, recall how their farm equipment skipped over the hardened
paths that crossed the land, paths used by native Americans as they
traveled down the hillside to get water from Baker Creek. Longtime residents
Ralf and Marlene Shaw farm their land just down the road from Alloro,
and would gladly fill your bike bottle from their refreshing spring-fed
water supply. You can be sure to find them any warm summer afternoon
on their shady back porch built from hundred year-old timbers. If you're
extra nice to Ralf, you might coax him out of a taste of his homemade
blackberry wine.
Established in 1999, Alloro's location in the Chehelem
mountains of Oregon's Willamette Valley is ideally situated in of one
of Oregon's unique, temperate microclimates. Alloro's vineyard is managed
for low yields, resulting in wonderfully intense flavors from Pommard
and Dijon clone vines that reflect the terroir. Our goal is to produce
wines that are well balanced, and possess character, complexity and
elegance. At the crest of the hill can be found Alloro's Mediterranean-inspired
winery and tasting room with underground cellars. The building was designed
and engineered to last for generations, constructed almost entirely
out of concrete and wood. The doors, windows and roof trusses
are made of Oregon Douglas fir, well known for durability and strength.
The underground barrel rooms are timeless in design and energy efficient,
taking advantage of the cool earth to maintain ideal cellaring temperatures.
The Alloro winery was designed by noted winery architect Larry Ferrar and completed
in time for the 2003 harvest.


THE GOAL OF ALLORO IS SIMPLE:
To be know as one of oregons's finest producers of small production
handcrafted wines
The celebration of fine wine, food, family and friends
is one of life's simple pleasures. Salutê!

