Liska Gamay Willamette Valley 2023

The Wine

Where does the best Gamay wine come from? Most wine geeks will reflexively respond "Beaujolais". But with this wine we have an outstanding example of what thoughtful farming and precise winemaking can do with Gamay in Oregon!

Using some of the same techniques perfected in Beaujolais, Liska has adapted them to their own region, using a technique called 'whole cluster' fermentation (which highlights the grape's high-toned red fruit notes), and gentle cap management to avoid extraction of aggressive tannins. The finished wine was then aged for 10 months in 25% new Hungarian & French oak barrels.  

Tasting Notes: This is Gamay with both lift and depth—a wine that marries the crunchy red fruit and spice of Beaujolais with the savory structure and mineral tension of the Willamette Valley. Aromas of maraschino cherry, blooming rose, and anise lead into a palate layered with white peppercorn, caraway seed, and dark berries. There’s a subtle note of chocolate milk and sanguine minerality that adds intrigue and texture.

The wine is bright, chillable, and complex, with a fine-grained tannic frame and refreshing acidity. It’s a wine that feels alive—perfect for lamb chops, roasted squash, or a fall evening with friends.

Only 200 cases produced. 12.5% ABV 

The Winery

Quite young by any measure, Liska Winery was founded in 2021 by a pair of winemakers with deep ties to European traditions. Liska is their small, terroir-focused project based in the Willamette Valley. The duo cut their teeth in the Mosel in 2017, and their reverence for dry Riesling, structured whites, and cool-climate reds informs everything they do.

Liska’s wines are made with a minimalist touch—native fermentations, lees aging, neutral oak, and a commitment to expressing site over style. Their Gamay is sourced from two distinct vineyards:

• Pamar Vineyard (Van Duzer Corridor): Brings power, concentration, and marine sedimentary grip

• Björnson Vineyard (Eola-Amity Hills): Offers delicacy, savory nuance, and bright acidity

Together, these sites create a Gamay that’s layered, expressive, and unmistakably Oregonian. Liska’s approach is thoughtful and restrained, with a focus on balance, transparency, and longevity.

Their wines are quietly gaining cult status among sommeliers and natural wine lovers alike—not for flash, but for their quiet brilliance.