Foley Estate

Acrobat

An Oregon brand within Foley Family Wines, sourcing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir from partner vineyards across western Oregon.

At A Glance

Field: Detail
Region: Oregon
Brand: Acrobat
Main grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir
Signature wine: Acrobat Chardonnay
Defining feature: Fruit sourced from partner vineyards across Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley

The Producer

Acrobat is an Oregon brand within Foley Family Wines. Its wines come from partner vineyards across the Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley, a deliberate spread chosen to give Acrobat a balanced flavor profile of Oregon.

Grower relationships support consistency between vintages. The brand also places attention on sustainable winemaking practices. Its range covers Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, rosé of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Pinot Gris supplying the largest share of volume at the time Foley Family Wines acquired the brand.

Place

Oregon's three classic western AVAs give Acrobat a wide sourcing base. An American Viticultural Area, or AVA, is a defined grape growing region, so fruit from these names carries different regional origins even when it appears under one brand.

The Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley together form Acrobat's Oregon address. The geographic selection was made by design, with the wines intended to present a balanced flavor profile of the state.

Soil And Site

Cascade Vineyard supplies Chardonnay from 26 planted acres. Its principal soils are Amity silt loam and Holcumb silt loam. Silt loam can retain moisture while allowing drainage, and water availability affects vine growth, ripening and the acidity retained in grapes.

Kennel Vineyard grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on 25 acres. Acrobat has sourced fruit from Kennel since 2010, adding a long standing grower relationship to its partner vineyard model.

Story

Acrobat chose geographic breadth as a working model. The vineyard selection crosses Oregon's western AVAs, while grower relationships provide the continuity between vintages. The range can therefore include Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, rosé and Chardonnay without depending on one estate vineyard.

The brand's stated focus also includes sustainable winemaking practices. These choices keep the producer's wines connected to Oregon as a group of growing regions, with fruit arriving from partner vineyards rather than from land acquired by the brand.

Vineyards And Cellar

The vineyard model is built around named partner sites. Cascade Vineyard provides Chardonnay from its planted acreage and has Amity silt loam and Holcumb silt loam soils. Kennel Vineyard grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and has supplied Acrobat since 2010.

Acrobat Chardonnay is fermented in a combination of oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Oak barrels can add texture and spice through contact with wood and oxygen, while stainless steel preserves a cleaner fruit profile.

Wines

The range includes Oregon Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, rosé of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pinot Gris supplied the largest share of Acrobat's volume when the brand was acquired, with Pinot Noir close behind.

Chardonnay is made entirely from Chardonnay and fermented in both oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Pinot Noir provides the red wine expression, while the rosé uses Pinot Noir in a pale, fresh style. The range therefore moves across white, red and rosé formats while keeping Oregon fruit at its center.

In The Glass

The Chardonnay shows yellow apple, pineapple, citrus, pear, vanilla and subtle spice. Its finish is medium in length and balanced, with lively acidity carrying the wine through the close.

Pinot Gris is medium bodied, with pear, guava and honeydew alongside a touch of minerality. Bright acidity keeps the wine energetic and extends the finish. Pinot Noir brings red fruit, fine grained tannins and balancing acidity. The rosé is marked by wild strawberry, guava and grapefruit, with a medium bodied palate and crisp acidity.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose Acrobat Chardonnay 2023. It is made entirely from Chardonnay, with fruit from the Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley and fermentation in oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.

The bottle isolates two clear parts of the brand's work: a single grape variety and a broad Oregon sourcing model. Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and rosé show the wider range, while this Chardonnay places regional fruit beside a cellar choice that uses both wood and steel.

Anecdote

On 6 April 2018, King Estate sold the Acrobat brand to Foley Family Wines for an undisclosed amount. The transaction covered the brand and its inventory, but no vineyards or land. Foley Family Wines acquired an Oregon label with a partner vineyard network rather than a property portfolio. Acrobat's fruit comes from vineyards across the Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley, while grower relationships support consistency between vintages.

Final Word

Acrobat is an Oregon brand sourced through partner vineyards, with a range that covers Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and rosé. Its defining choice is regional breadth carried through grower relationships.

Acrobat

At A Glance

The Producer

Place

Soil And Site

Story

Vineyards And Cellar

Wines

In The Glass

A Bottle To Understand It

Anecdote

Final Word

Sources

Where to go next