2001 Matthews Patton Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir

Matthews was established in Woodinville, near Seattle, in 1993 by Matthew Loso. In 2008 the Otis family of Woodinville, who had already owned a financial share of the winery, bought out Loso and by 2012 the Otis family, headed by Cliff and Diane Otis, bought out the remaining owners to become sole proprietors. Matthews Cellars was one of the first wineries in Woodinville, which is now home to nearly 100 wineries. Besides making Mathews label wines, the Otis family, which includes several adult sons who help run the business, have created an ultra premium winery and label called Tenor. The Matthews label offers a full portfolio of wines, including a Claret, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and red blends.

Willamette Valley AVA was established in 1983, and it is the oldest appellation in Oregon. Oregon’s modern wine industry began in the Willamette Valley in the 1960s when artists, vagabond winemakers, and U.C. Davis oenology graduates looking for new territory started their own, small, off-the-grid wineries. The appellation is the state’s largest, and it extends 175 miles from Columbia River on the Washington/Oregon border to just south of Eugene, near central Oregon. The Willamette River runs through the area, helping to give the appellation a mild year-round climate. There are six smaller sub-appellations within this AVA, but altogether the Willamette Valley has the largest concentration of wineries in Oregon, as well as the majority of the state’s most famous producers. Pinot Noir is king here, followed by Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling. To most admirers of Oregon Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley offers the most distinctive wine choices in the state.

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.