08/23/2026
After two packed days of Crowley Wines in NYC, Tyson Crowley showcased why the Willamette Valley is the darling of the press and wine lovers alike. An ambassador of the cool-climate, lower-intervention style the region has become known for, Tyson’s careful touch and patience results in organic wines that Michael Alberty of Wine Enthusiast describe as “…ballerina-like, striking an almost perfect balance between fruit and acidity.”
We couldn’t agree more. The unfurling dance of Tyson’s 2023 and 2024 Chardonnays and Pinot Noir in the glass speaks to the transparency and purity of his wines. They offer a lens into the swirls of Willamette Valley’s coveted sites, from the foothills of the McMinnville coast over to the rocky climes of Eola-Amity Hills: clay and loam soils, yes, but mostly the unique volcanic Saum with a backbone of weathered basalt throughout. These are rich in microbes and mineral character, providing nuance and depth to the fruit.
The Four Winds vineyard is in many ways the jewel of the winery. Situated about 800 feet on the coast in the McMinnville AVA bordering Yamhill-Carlton and farmed by Crowley since 2020, these almost 11 acres of uniquely shallow soils are half 30 year old dry-farmed vines, own-rooted and planted to Wente and Dijon Chardonnay and Oregon’s famous Pommard Pinot Noir; a rarity, as very little own-root or “old” vines remain in the region.
Tyson’s Chardonnays are gently whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented, with the Helen (a reductive style complementing the saline and mineral Draper) and Phoebe (an oxidative style embracing the supple richness of the Wente) bottlings named in homage to Tyson’s grandmothers. The Pinot Noirs are almost all destemmed, long and cool soaks are followed by slow fermentations for gentle extraction, with extended barrel aging that sees a touch of new oak.
Love and exploration are what these sublime Oregon wines are about. Thank you to all our retail and restaurant friends for their warm welcome. Until next time, Tyson!
