Founded in 2011 by husband-and-wife duo John House and Ksenija Kostic, Ovum is dedicated to producing Oregon wines that are an honest reflection of time, place, and terroir. After years of learning the intricacies of the Willamette Valley while working together at Chehalem, John and Ksenija set off to further investigate the myriad terroirs of Oregon through the lens of Riesling, and now source fruit from through the state. Ovum is known for their low-intervention philosophy in and out of the cellar, a commitment to letting the vintage and vineyard shine, not the vintner. “Fruit comes first,” they say. “Our top priority is finding farmers that share our beliefs, and then getting out of the way so their hard work can be tasted.” All wines are fermented naturally, and there are no additions or subtractions except for a small amount of SO2, and most wines endure extended lees contact – all in neutral barrels of acacia and oak, as well as Nomblot concrete eggs. The resulting wines are textured and concentrated, driven by minerality, and framed by unwavering acidity.