2022 Hiyu "Aesalon", Columbia Gorge White Wine, Oregon, USA
ABOUT THIS WINE “Aesalon” is Hiyu Wine Farm’s ode to the white wines of the Iberian Peninsula, grown in the unique highland terroir of Oregon’s Columbia Gorge. The vineyard—planted to a complex field blend of Spanish and Portuguese varieties including Xarel-lo, Arinto, Verdelho, Godello, Albariño, Albillo Real, Macabeo, and Trousseau Gris—was grafted in 2016 over Pinot Gris and is cultivated without irrigation, synthetic inputs, or manipulation. The 2022 vintage was shaped by a cool spring and long growing season, allowing for slow, even ripening and remarkable aromatic development. The fruit underwent a brief skin maceration before gentle pressing, and fermentation occurred spontaneously in seasoned barrels. The wine was then aged for 20 months on fine lees, enhancing texture while preserving vibrancy. It opens with layered aromas of yuzu, quince, chamomile, sea spray, and crushed white rock. On the palate, it is simultaneously broad and saline, with citrus oil, stone fruit, fennel pollen, and almond skin leading into a taut, mineral-driven finish. Pair with grilled white fish, Dungeness crab, or saffron-scented vegetable paella. ABOUT THIS PRODUCER Hiyu Wine Farm, nestled in Oregon’s Hood River Valley, is a 30-acre biodynamic farm devoted to polyculture and regenerative agriculture. Founded by former master sommelier Nate Ready and visual artist China Tresemer, the farm is a living, breathing ecosystem where vines, animals, vegetables, and wild flora coexist. Every vineyard block is a field blend, designed to explore historical viticultural models and deepen the relationship between land, farmer, and wine. Wines are made with minimal intervention: native fermentations, whole cluster pressing, long lees aging, and no additives beyond small sulfur doses at bottling. “Aesalon” is part of Hiyu’s core lineup—an expression of curiosity, place, and the potential of less-trodden varietal paths. It is both grounded and ethereal, a quiet meditation on complexity and place.