Holden Wine Company Interplanetary 2017

Interplanetary is a red blend from Holden Wine Company, made by winemaker Sterling Whitted in Oregon. The 2017 is a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera, two northern Italian varieties that Whitted has made central to his project since founding the label in 2011. The wine carries the Columbia River Gorge appellation, an AVA that straddles the Oregon-Washington border roughly 60 miles east of Portland.

Nebbiolo contributes the wine's backbone: firm tannins, high natural acidity, and aromatics of dried cherry, rose petal, and tar. Barbera adds volume and dark fruit weight while softening the overall tannin profile. At 13% ABV the wine sits on the leaner end of the spectrum, which keeps it food-friendly and age-worthy.

Whitted's approach is low-intervention: minimal inputs, no added chemicals, and winemaking that prioritizes fruit character and site expression over technical polish. He worked harvests at Owen Roe, Cameron, and Teutonic Wine Company before launching Holden, and that background in both Willamette-style farming and unconventional varieties is evident in how he handles Italian grapes in an Oregon context.

The Columbia Gorge AVA supports Italian varieties well. Silty loam soils over volcanic basalt bedrock, persistent winds off the river, and a wide diurnal temperature range allow Nebbiolo and Barbera to retain natural acidity while reaching adequate ripeness.