We dive deep into the remarkable journey of Oregon's Pinot Noir, starting with David Lett's audacious move to plant vines in the Willamette Valley in 1965. Against all odds and expert predictions, he and his wife, Diana, faced numerous challenges while establishing a new wine region that would eventually gain global recognition.
From living in a trailer to sending their wine to the Wine Olympiad in Paris, David and Diana's determination turned skepticism into success. Their story illustrates that great wine doesn't ask for permission and highlights the importance of believing in oneself, even when others doubt you. Join us as we explore how Oregon transformed into a powerhouse for Pinot Noir, proving that sometimes the biggest risk is listening to the naysayers.
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Every bottle has a front label.
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That's the story they want you to know.
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The back label is the story they didn't.
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This is the back label, a story that gives you the full pour.
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In 1965, David Lett packed a station wagon with grape cuttings.
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He drove straight into what most experts would have called
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professional suicide.
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Not Napa, not Sonoma.
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The Willamette Valley.
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It wasn't wine country.
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It was timber and berries.
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The most fragile grape on earth.
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It had no business being there except David Lett didn't care.
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He and his wife Diana set up in the Dundee Hills living in a
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Planting vines into iron-rich jory soil.
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Just a belief that great wine doesn't ask for permission.
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For years, they were written off.
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The crazy couple on the hill.
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The market ignored them.
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Because if it wasn't French or at least Californian, it didn't
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Lett sent his 1975 Pinot Noir to the Wine Olympiad in Paris.
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Just to see if it was even good.
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When the results came in,
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his Oregon Pinot Noir ranked alongside the best wines in the
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Just like that, a region nobody respected, demanded attention.
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Because once Oregon stood next to Burgundy,
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What started as one man's gamble became a global Pinot Noir
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All from a place that was never supposed to work.
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Turns out, the biggest risk in wine isn't failure.
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It's listening to people who think they already know
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Every bottle has a front label.
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That's the story they want you to know.
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The back label is the story they didn't.
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You've just heard the full pour.
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