2015 Willamette Valley Vineyards AVA Series Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley Vineyards was founded in 1983 by Jim Bernau when he purchased a plum orchard in Turner. The estate has grown to more than 500 acres over the years, and all of its barrel-aged Pinot Noir comes from estate vineyards. The estate produces primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a few other whites, including Pinot Gris and Riesling. Some years ago the estate began offering publicly traded stock. In 2011 Wine & Spirits Magazine named Willamette Valley Vineyards the Winery of the Year.

Yamhill-Carlton AVA is located in Yamhill and Washington Counties, and it is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, Oregon’s most prestigious wine producing region. It has 1,200 vineyard acres and was awarded AVA status in 2004. The region grows Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Muscat, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Ken Wright Cellars, Elk Cove Vineyards and WillaKenzie Estate are among the district’s best-known producers. All focus on Pinot Noir.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.