Oregon wine country would be a drastically different place without David Lett. In 1967 Lett and his wife bought a 20 acre farm which would soon become Eyrie Vineyards and proceeded to replace the prune farm with a combination of European grapes. David thought that the more challenging growing conditions in Oregon would lead to wines with more finesse and complexity then was typically found in other new world producers in California, Chile and Australia.

He thought, much like the French chateau owners that grapes grown in ideal conditions could never have to work to ripen and achieve the type of elegant wine that is so typical of wine from Burgundy and the great Bordeaux's.

Having graduated form the preeminent viniculture culture in the world, the University of California at Davis and having spent significant time in France David Lett had a unique appreciation for terrior and the greatness that can be found in wines grown in less than ideal ripening conditions.

He planted a series of grapes that are known to do well in cooler climates such as the aforementioned Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris and a few others.

Unfortunately Mr Lett is no longer with us, but although some critics suggest his influence on the wine industry was not significant because of his use of smaller, new oak barrels and industrial yeast, I disagree completely. Without Mr. Lett acting as a visionary we may not have Pinot Noir grown in cold weather new world locations, which has been a dramatic step forward in wine drinking.