Hiyu Wine Farm Tzum Oak Ridge Spring Ephemeral, Columbia Gorge, USA

In a vintage that captures the pulse of alpine Oregon, the 2021 Hiyu Wine Farm Tzum Oak Ridge Spring Ephemeral redefines Pinot Noir through the lens of elevation, wild farming, and pure intuition. Sourced from one of the northernmost vineyards in the Columbia Gorge, high above the White Salmon River, this bottling evokes the feeling of “the beat of one’s heart in the pure darkness.” It is Pinot Noir, yes, but it hums with the untamed electricity of mountain grapes rarely seen outside Europe.

Product Details:

• Winemakers & Owners: Nate Ready & China Tresemer
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Alcohol: 12% ABV
• Farming: Organic, Biodynamic, Permaculture
• Soil Type: Sandy loam
• Vine Age: Average of 40 years
• Vinification: Manual harvest into small baskets, whole cluster maceration, slow fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged in neutral oak barrels of various sizes. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Sensory Description:

This wine defies varietal expectations. Ethereal and shimmering, it floats between the worlds of Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Gamay, offering a translucent robe and gently clouded appearance. On the nose, alpine herbs, wild berries, and forest floor mingle with crushed violets and flinty mineral tension. The palate is juicy and raucous, bright red fruit, cracked pepper, savory spice, and an almost tactile lift of high-altitude freshness. A wine that dances on the edge of wildness while remaining deeply intentional.

Winemaker's Background:

Hiyu Wine Farm is a polymorphic estate in the Columbia Gorge where nature leads and humans follow. Winemaker and former Master Sommelier Nate Ready and artist-farmer China Tresemer co-own the farm, guiding its regenerative philosophy alongside a small team of caretakers. Here, animals graze among the vines, biodynamics are practiced in full rhythm with lunar cycles, and no wine is made to meet expectation, only to express place and season. Their Tzum project captures site-specific expressions from distinct vineyards, like Oak Ridge, each told as a singular narrative.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve lightly chilled at 12–14°C. Pair with wild mushroom tart, beet-cured trout, or grilled pork shoulder with sage. Its alpine lift and savory edge also make it a remarkable companion to charcuterie, alpine cheeses, and dishes with pickled or foraged elements.

This is not Pinot Noir as you’ve known it, it is a pure pulse of the Columbia Gorge, shaped by mist, mountains, and intention. For those who seek wines that stretch definitions and awaken the senses, this bottle delivers a singular journey.