New Release : Clair de Lune
While certain wines are the product of meticulous planning, others were simply destined to exist; such is the case for Clair de Lune, our exciting new release at Evening Land Vineyards.
In 2024, our Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc blocks at Seven Springs Vineyard serendipitously ripened in perfect harmony. The grapes appeared nearly identical, rendering it impossible to separate each precious cluster from the next. Blending them together felt not only natural, but like a twist of fate.
Created in homage to the great Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc blends of the Loire Valley, our Oregon expression honors this spirit of tradition, while also deeply reflecting our distinct terroir. Similar to its French counterparts, each variety in Clair de Lune brings its own unique nuances to the table. While Chardonnay offers finesse and crisp energy, Chenin brings texture, waxy depth, and a sense of gravity.
Our young Chenin Blanc vines are the result of top-grafting one acre of old-vine Pinot Noir, using cuttings from Tegan Passalacqua’s Kirschenmann Vineyard in Lodi, CA. Planted alongside the forest on clay-rich soils and farmed biodynamically, the site has proved extraordinary for textural white grapes. The result? Graceful, flinty juice with food-friendly energy and a signature saline lift, inspired by the Chablis-like, volcanic expressions of the Loire.
In the cellar, Clair de Lune was produced with a perfectly balanced, 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. All fruit was whole cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts in barrel prior to aging for six months in neutral 228L barrels and one month in tank. The resulting wine offers vibrant flavors of juicy Gala apple, bergamot, beeswax, and ginger marked by a spritzy freshness and a long, lingering finish. It’s perfect for enjoying on a warm, sunny day—or even more so, under the light of the moon in good company.
Clair de Lune is more than a new release—it’s the essence of Evening Land Vineyards distilled into a bottle: volcanic soils, forest borders, cool winds, biodynamic farming, and the quiet conviction to let the vineyard’s story unfold.