Featured Wines
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Named for Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan,” this edition of Bells Up's flagship Oregon pinot noir mingles 42% Yamhill-Carlton Pommard (6-year-old vines) with 29% each of Yamhill-Carlton Dijon clones 115 and 777 (16-year-old vines), all grown in sedimentary Willakenzie soil. Aged 7 months in French oak (30% new), this bold, fruit-forward, well-structured Pinot is a result of 2015’s extremely hot summer, with 25 days of 95-plus-degree heat during the growing season and very little rain. The small clusters and berries yielded intensified flavors and aromas. WINE ENTHUSIAST SCORE: 90.2015 TitanWillamette Valley Pinot Noir -
The 2016 edition of Bells Up's flagship Willamette Valley pinot noir—named for Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan”—combines 35% Chehalem Mountains Pommard (8-year-old vines) grown on wind-blown Loess with 34% Dijon clone 115 and 31% Dijon clone 777 (16-year-old Yamhill-Carlton vines) grown in sedimentary Willakenzie soil. Aged 12 months in French oak (39% new), this delightfully balanced Pinot reflects the Willamette Valley's early spring and an extended growing season characterized by warm days and cool nights. Gentle temperature shifts and low humidity combined to produce a wine with the rare combination of early drinkability and considerable aging potential. WASHINGTON WINE BLOG SCORE: 91.2016 TitanWillamette Valley Pinot Noir -
This special, limited edition reserve pinot noir is named for Paul Dukas’ duet for French Horn and Piano, “Villanelle.” Distinguished by a layered, supple elegance, this wine showcases the richer mouthfeel and spicier characteristics of Oregon pinot noir from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. It combines equal parts free-run Dijon clones 115 and 777 (16-year-old vines), barrel-aged for 12 months in French oak. Tonnelier Vineyard is a 4-acre micro-site on sedimentary Willakenzie soil, which typically yields structured wines.2016 VillanelleTonnelier Vineyard ∞ Yamhill-Carlton AVA Reserve Pinot Noir
The Bells Up Story:
“If you’re this successful in a career that makes you sick, stressed and miserable… how much more successful would you be doing something you love?”
That’s the question Sara asked Dave 10 years ago, following his mental and physical breakdown from more than a decade as a successful corporate tax attorney. This, while watching Sara’s professional mentor battle pancreatic cancer at age 40.
The answer, for us, was that life is too short to spend unhappy. So we turned the basement hobby that brought Dave joy — winemaking — into Bells Up Winery.
Dave left the legal field, dedicating himself full-time to learning the business of making wine as a professional at Henke Winery while we lived in Cincinnati, Ohio.
After Dave won two different amateur national winemaking competitions with two different wines, we decided to relocate to Newberg, Oregon. In 2013, we established Bells Up Winery and our winemaking dreams took root.
Today — micro-boutique, un-domaine and always open by appointment — Bells Up composes handcrafted, classically-styled Oregon Pinot Noir with grapes sourced primarily from micro-growers located on the northern side of the Willamette Valley.
The name “Bells Up” refers to a dramatic moment in classical music where the composer instructs French horn players to lift the bells of their instruments up and project sound with maximum intensity. Dave, a French horn player who performed throughout high school and college, says the winery is his “Bells Up” moment.
As one of Newberg’s newest labels, we make approximately 500 cases annually and offer a small selection of Oregon-grown and produced varietals. All Bells Up wines are sold directly from our tasting room with limited availability in select Oregon wine shops.