Quick – what is the first wine region you can think of that grows Pinot?

I’m waiting.

Really.

Think about it.

Maybe it’s just me (and I love a smooth-drinking Pinot), but nothing stood out to me until I tried an Oregon Pinot.

Enough to Make Conversation

Called the “un-California,” Oregon wine country is where ex-Golden State vintners go to let their hair down.

Breaking the Pinot mold, Willamette Valley wines are less obvious, less flamboyantly fruity than their California counterparts.

When was the last time you drank a wine so edgy and opinionated that made you stop and think?

The Lowdown

Grapes: Pinot Noir
Region: Willamette Valley
Flavor: elegant, intense, dark fruit
Color: black cherry
How to Serve: cellar temperature (put it in the fridge for 15 minutes for optimal temperature)
Cost: $15-$30

Well-known Brands: Bergstrom, Beaux Freres (a Robert Parker partnership), Penner-Ash

When to Drink: Let these Pinots age for at least a few years. Though they haven’t been around for a long, the wines still drink well after twenty or even thirty years.

How to Pair: Predominantly with earthy foods like mushrooms or lentils. Another odd but interesting and successful pairing is Oregon Pinot with Ahi Tuna.

The Backstory

Like many producers who challenge French wine’s superiority, Oregon Pinot is a very new kid on the block.

The first Pinot noir grapes were only planted in the state in 1959. Just twenty years later they were wowing the French at the Wine Olympics, where, unlike most Beer Olympics, the judging is pretty fierce.

Fun Party Facts

(1) The Willamette Valley is located at the same latitude of the Burgundy region of France. (Wikipedia)

(2) In 1979, an Oregon Pinot placed third in the Wine Olympics in Paris.

(3) There are actually six highly varied sub-appelations in the Willamette Valley.

Accolades

The 2008 Beaux Freres Pinot noir Upper Terrace received a whopping 95 points from Wine Spectator
The 2008 Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains de Lancellotti Vineyard received 94 points from Wine Spectator