2024 Ovum "Big Salt" Orange Rosé, Columbia Gorge, Oregon, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

This wine is a 50/50 blend of 14-day skin-contact Pinot Gris from Booth Hill in Hood River, Oregon, and Ovum’s signature Big Salt cuvée, which includes Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Muscat. The Pinot Gris undergoes native fermentation with added skin-contact Muscat and Gewürztraminer, followed by aging on lees for 5–6 months in neutral barrels. The result is a wine with a hazy rose-gold to amber hue, offering aromas of earthy ginger, turmeric, and tropical fruits. On the palate, it presents flavors of mandarin creamsicle and hibiscus ginger tea, with a soft texture and characteristic tannic grip .

The vineyards are situated at elevations around 1,500 feet on basaltic and volcanic soils, contributing to the wine's mineral backbone. Farming practices are organic and sustainable, aligning with Ovum's commitment to low-intervention winemaking .

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Founded in 2011 by Ksenija and John House, Ovum Wines is dedicated to producing transparent, low-intervention wines that reflect Oregon's diverse terroirs. Specializing in aromatic white varieties, Ovum employs native fermentation, extended lees contact, and minimal intervention, using neutral oak, acacia barrels, and cement eggs. Their philosophy emphasizes allowing the vineyard and vintage to shine, resulting in wines that are honest expressions of time and place .