A.D. Beckham Amphora Gewürztraminer
Snake River Valley > Oregon
Gewürztraminer, 2022
A.D. Beckham and his amphorae may have the best origin story we’ve ever heard. We are so proud to even share this corner of the world with him. As a highschool pottery teacher and vine grower, Andrew was inspired by Elisabetta Foridori’s return to amphora in Italy and decided to make his own onsite at the estate he shares with his family in Chehalem Mountains, OR. Here we have Gewürztraminer fermented on the skins for 10 days - citrus bursts without the ripping acidity.
Snake River Valley > Oregon
Gewürztraminer, 2022
A.D. Beckham and his amphorae may have the best origin story we’ve ever heard. We are so proud to even share this corner of the world with him. As a highschool pottery teacher and vine grower, Andrew was inspired by Elisabetta Foridori’s return to amphora in Italy and decided to make his own onsite at the estate he shares with his family in Chehalem Mountains, OR. Here we have Gewürztraminer fermented on the skins for 10 days - citrus bursts without the ripping acidity.
Snake River Valley > Oregon
Gewürztraminer, 2022
A.D. Beckham and his amphorae may have the best origin story we’ve ever heard. We are so proud to even share this corner of the world with him. As a highschool pottery teacher and vine grower, Andrew was inspired by Elisabetta Foridori’s return to amphora in Italy and decided to make his own onsite at the estate he shares with his family in Chehalem Mountains, OR. Here we have Gewürztraminer fermented on the skins for 10 days - citrus bursts without the ripping acidity.
Grape: 100% Gewürztraminer
ABV: 10%
The Story: Thirty minutes south of Portland, winding roads lead to a hilltop in Willamette’s Chehalem Mountains. With steeply pitched, dramatic panoramic views, Beckham Estate Vineyard is the culmination of the evolving vision and dedication of Andrew and Annedria Beckham, an indelible team of a couple. Andrew, a high school ceramics teacher, moved with the family in 2004 with the intent of building a pottery studio. Inspired by the local farming community, within a year they began clearing and planting the property surrounding their home. While consciously leaving riparian zones for natural habitat and wildlife the Beckhams progressively expanded the vineyard to nearly half of their 34 acres including 6 grape varietals while also constructing a tasting room, winery, and fully functioning ceramics studio, where Andrew makes, you guessed it - his own amphorae. Beckham Estate is likely the only winery in the world where the production of the terra cotta vessels (branded NOVUM) for fermenting and aging is on-site, and is integrated with the farming and production of the wines. It’s a really amazing tasting experience and tour of the facilities, if you make it that way.
The wines produced under the A.D. Beckham label have fermented and aged primarily in Andrew’s hand-made clay amphorae. A true convergence of passions – farming, ceramics, and winemaking, these wines are full of energy and texture while exemplifying the influence of thousands of years of human history making wine in clay vessels. This 100% Gewürztraminer comes from Snake River Valley near the Idaho border, but share the Beckham’s sustainable farming philosophies. The juice is left on the skins in NOVUM for 10 days, fermented with native yeasts, un-fined and unfiltered, with minimal added sulphites. This wine was released to their club members only, but we managed to score some cases for your drinking pleasure - lucky you!
Personality: Gewürz is a famously aromatic grape. A ripe blond lemon-lime tangerine burst with wafts of ginger and lychee and a touch of brick taste, but in a good way. The citrus elements really stand out here, but without ripping acidity.
Harmony: Late fall flavors come to mind, mushroom sherry cream sauce, charred branzino, fennel, squash, you get the idea.