Division Winemaking Company
by Terry and Kathy Sullivan
Summary: Division Winemaking Company is an urban winery located within the South East section of Portland, Oregon. The winery takes its name from its first location on Division Street. The winery moved to its present location about three blocks from Division Street. Grapes are sourced from vineyards in Oregon and Washington.
Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe started the Southeast Wine Collective in 2012. The facility housed other winemakers, a restaurant and Division Winery had a tasting room at the original location on Division Street. In 2021, the owners acquired a larger property about three blocks away. The present facility will afford the opportunity to increase production from about 10,000 cases to 15,000 cases each year. A tasting room was added and opened in 2023. In addition to the Division Winemaking Company, the current facility also houses Rossini Winery.
The Division Winery tasting room is small but welcoming to wine enthusiasts. The room is bright from natural light and green plants add to the welcoming nature of the room and tasting experience. A small tasting counter is room enough for four tasters. Nearby is a small, unique wood table made of a thick slab of natural wood that seats six visitors. Seating is also available along the windows. Ambience is added to the area with shelves showcasing many of the Division wines. On another wall are two shelves with large modern paintings above. The artist, Brenna Therese titled the paintings “late night conversations and too much red wine.” Nearby a window offers a look into the winemaking area.
Division Winemaking participates in the One Barrel Challenge. The tasting room has the seven wines available. According to a sign, the seven wines represent the One Barrel Challenge. “These seven wines represent the One Barrel Challenge, a collective dream of making Oregon’s wine industry more accessible and inclusive, regardless of color, class or creed. Rooted in unity, collaboration and empowerment, each participant in the One Barrel Challenge has donated the equivalent of one barrel of wine to the cause, with 100 percent of prices devoted to access and education in breaking down barriers in the wine industry.”
The winery consists of concrete tanks some rectangular and others circular. There are wood and stainless steel barrels. In another section there are stainless steel tanks.
Kate and Thomas (pictured left) had interesting wine journeys. Thomas was interested in wine as a consumer. An uncle was also interested in wine and belonged to a Burgundy wine lover’s group.The group would travel to Burgundy and return with a pallet of wine of which some would be kept and some sold. Thomas loved the friendship and camaraderie of the group. Thomas developed a keen sense for wine, food and friends. In college, Thomas studied hotel management that included courses in wine education.
Thomas met Kate and in 2008 both were interested in career changes. They traveled to France to work in a vineyard and winery. On their return, Kate worked at a winery in Oregon. They were given some grapes in 2010 and crafted their own wine. Thomas stated, “In 2013 they found their voice in winemaking.”
Winemaking
One of their winemaking practices is to use natural yeasts in the wines. They developed a good relationship with the twenty vineyards they source grapes from. They have input on when to harvest the grapes. They own the Cassin Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. When making blends, they like their wines to have a consistency between vintages as well as express the terroir each year.
Presently Thomas and Kate are crafting wine under four labels: Division, Division Villages, Nightshade and Gamine. The Gamine label is solely crafted by Kate. It reflects her inspiration from and love of the Rhone Valley in France.
Wines
The wines were accompanied by gourmet-style marinated olives by Cafe Olli. We sampled several wines starting with a 2021 Gamine Péttillant, Applegate Valley AVA. The rosé wine was made with Grenache grapes and had 12.9% alcohol. It had a gold color with pink hue. The wine offered red berry fruits. It had enough effervescence to tickle the tongue. This is an easy to drink wine. We tasted the wine while touring the production area of the winery.
The 2022 Division Villages “L’Avoiron” Columbia Valley AVA was a rosé of Gamay. The wine had 12.5 % alcohol and had a pink color with a red hue. The aroma was reminiscent of a red berry fruit salad. It offered red raspberries with a touch of strawberries on the taste. The finish was crisp and fruity.
The 2021 Division Chardonnay “UN” was made with Chardonnay grapes sourced from the Willamette Valley. The 12.3% alcohol wine had a light gold color. The wine had a light aroma. The taste included mineral and apple. The finish was crisp and refreshing.
The 2022 Division Chardonnay “UN” also made with grapes from the Willamette Valley. The 12% alcohol wine had a dark yellow color. The taste had minerality, earthiness, apple and melon. The finish was fruity.
The 2022 Division Villages “Les Petits Fers” was made with Gamay grapes sourced from Oregon. This 12.5% alcohol wine had a dark pink color with a red hue. The wine was nearly opaque. It had red fruits on the aroma. The taste included cherries and blackberries. The wine had a medium body with mild tannins. The finish was fruity. This is an easy to drink red wine.
The 2022 Division Gamay Noir “Lutte” Willamette Valley AVA had 12.5% alcohol and was opaque with a dark pink color with a red hue. Cherries were predominant on the aroma and taste along with baking spices. The wine had a medium body and medium tannins. The finish was fruity and spicy.
Our last tasting was Division Winery’s flagship wine. The 2022 Division Pinot Noir “UN” Willamette Valley AVA was a blend of Pinot Noir grapes sourced from the vineyards in Oregon where Division purchases grapes. Their winemaking focus was for the fruit to express the terroir of the vintage rather than a specific vineyard. The 13.1% alcohol wine had an opaque dark ruby color. The aroma was reminiscent of a black and red berries fruit salad. The taste offered black raspberries, red raspberries, mineral, earthiness and baking spices. The wine had a medium/full body with medium tannins. On the finish, fruit yields to minerality and earthiness on the aftertaste.
The population in an urban area is an advantage for an urban winery. When visiting Portland, Division Winemaking Company is easy to visit and enjoy.
Division Wine Making Company
2005 SE 8th Ave,
Portland, Oregon 97214
Article written December, 2023.
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