The Eyrie Vineyards was founded on February 22, 1965 when David Lett planted the first Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines in the Willamette Valley, having left California at 24 with 3,000 grape cuttings and a conviction that Oregon's Dundee Hills could rival Burgundy for the variety. David and his wife Diana established their estate on south-facing Jory volcanic soils in the Dundee Hills, and also planted the first Pinot Gris commercially grown outside of Europe. The South Block Reserve is drawn from one of five estate vineyards David and Diana established on the Dundee Hills, with son Jason Lett taking over winemaking after David's passing in 2008.