Oregon

Everyone knows Oregon wines mean one thing: Pinot Noir! Indeed, 53% of the state’s 31,000 ton production in 2010 came from the ancient french grape (first described by the Romans in the 1st century AD).

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Grown in all 16 AVA’s, the Willamette Valley AVA (boasting half of the states wineries), with its cool climate and well draining soils is perhaps most closely associated with Oregon’s Pinots. “Low to moderate grape skin tannins with good acidity mark the tactile qualities of this varietal. Pinot Noir is also a study in subtlety and nuance from the uniqueness of the site in which it grows.”(source: pinotnoir.com).

No one trick pony, Oregon’s adventurous growers/winemakers lead the nation in sustainable growing practices (32% of total acreage) and produce a variety of excellent wines including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Tempranillo, Grenache, Petit Verdon, and Zinfandel. With just under 2 million cases sold in 2010, it’s clearly quality over quantity in Oregon (source: http://industry.oregonwine.org/).

Some well regarded wine brands of Oregon include: Tyee Wine Cellars, Brandborg Wines, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Croft Vineyards, Van Duzer Vineyards, Ponzi Wines, Apolloni Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards, and Brooks Wines.

For a complete list of American Viticulture Areas, visit http://www.iwineinstitute.com/.