Antica Terra
Summary
Antica Terra is a boutique Willamette Valley winery founded in 2005 by former Sine Qua Non assistant winemaker Maggie Harrison, focusing on limited-production Pinot Noir from their 11-acre Eola-Amity Hills estate vineyard characterized by thin, rocky marine sediment soils. Harrison's intuitive, non-formulaic winemaking approach includes meticulous berry-by-berry sorting, vintage-specific whole-cluster fermentation decisions, and extended aging periods that prioritize expression over conventional timelines, creating wines available primarily through allocations due to their extremely limited availability.
Heritage & Leadership
Antica Terra was established in 2005 when a group of friends, including Maggie Harrison, purchased an 11-acre vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of Oregon's Willamette Valley. The vineyard itself dates back to 1989 when it was first planted to Pinot Noir. Harrison, who serves as winemaker and guiding force behind Antica Terra, brought valuable experience from her previous role as assistant winemaker at Sine Qua Non in California, where she worked for eight years under Manfred Krankl. Her transition to Oregon marked a significant shift from Rhône varieties to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The name "Antica Terra" translates to "ancient earth," reflecting the distinctive rocky terrain of the property. Under Harrison's leadership, the winery has maintained a deliberate focus on small-production wines that express the unique characteristics of their vineyard sites.
Vineyards & Wines
Antica Terra's home vineyard spans 11 acres in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, characterized by its thin, rocky soils that force the vines to struggle and develop deep root systems. The original vineyard, planted in 1989, consists primarily of Pinot Noir vines. The challenging growing conditions—including shallow, well-draining soils with a mix of sandstone and marine sediment—contribute to the distinctive character of their wines. Beyond their estate vineyard, Antica Terra sources fruit from select sites throughout the Willamette Valley to produce their portfolio of wines.
The winery produces several distinct Pinot Noirs, including Botanica, Ceras, and Antikythera, each representing different expressions of the variety. Their Chardonnay program includes the Aurata bottling. Additionally, they produce a rosé called Angelicall. Production remains intentionally limited, allowing for meticulous attention to each wine. The wines typically show a balance between the bright acidity characteristic of Oregon with a structural complexity that reflects Harrison's winemaking background.
Philosophy & Practice
Antica Terra's winemaking philosophy centers on responding to the specific character of each vintage rather than adhering to a fixed formula. In the vineyard, they focus on understanding and working with the challenging conditions of their rocky, thin-soiled site. Their approach emphasizes quality over quantity at every stage.
In the winery, Harrison implements extensive sorting protocols, examining each cluster and berry to ensure only the highest quality fruit makes it into the fermentation tanks. Fermentations for their Pinot Noirs typically include varying percentages of whole clusters, depending on the vintage and the specific wine. The winery utilizes a combination of new and neutral French oak barrels for aging, with specific protocols tailored to each wine in the portfolio.
Rather than following conventional timelines, Antica Terra's wines are bottled when Harrison determines they are ready, sometimes resulting in extended aging periods. This patient approach reflects their commitment to quality and expression over convenience or market demands. The winery's tasting room, housed in a former machine shop in Dundee, provides visitors with an intimate experience that mirrors the thoughtful approach applied to their winemaking.