While the sacred home of Pinot Noir is the Burgundy region of France, American Pinot Noir wines have also become world renown and very popular. Since I started my wine journey with American Pinot Noir, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Jack and I attended a Robert Mondavi wine tasting. I remember not really “appreciating” the first two wines which happened to be white wines. Then came the Pinot Noir. It was the first red wine I had ever tasted. It was love at first sip!
Throughout my wine journey, it seems like Pinot Noirs – really good Pinot Noirs — have always been there with me:
- Our move to Boston where I discovered the Willamette Valley wine region and two of my favorite wine producers, Cristom & Chehalem
- My favorite wine tasting of all time – Flowers Vineyard. A local Philadelphia couple makes it big in the California wine region. Flowers Pinot Noir is still one of my favorites!
- Reading Wine for Dummies where I first learned about the Russian River Valley region of California. I was so intrigued, I planned our wedding around traveling through the wine region. While we never got married there, we did have one of the best bottles of Pinot Noir on our wedding night – a 1972 Domaine Leroy from the Burgundy region of France. Yum!
To understand and appreciate Pinot Noir, you need to understand the grape. It is a very finicky variety that demands a cool-climate. Two great regions in the US for producing great Pinot Noir wines are in California and Oregon.
California
California’s Pinot Noir regions tend to be dry, and in valleys near the coast, taking advantage of the daytime dry warmth and evening cool temperatures. California Pinot Noir is generally riper and more fruit-forward than Oregon Pinot Noir. It is dominated by ripe red and purple fruit such as plum, blackberry, and cherry. And, it is typically heavier in body than an Oregon Pinot Noir. You can find good examples of Pinot Noir up and down the CA coast —but one of the state’s most renowned spots is the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. Two other popular regions producing great Pinot Noir are the Carneros and Santa Barbara regions.
Oregon
Oregon has a cooler and slightly less coastal climate than California so the wine has lighter red fruit characteristics, more acidity, less alcohol, and some earthiness. It’s more like a traditional French Burgundy style of Pinot Noir. The Willamette Valley, where the majority of the state’s wines are made, has a distinct climate that experiences four full seasons with cold winters and hot summers. This forces the grapes to ripen more slowly resulting in a lighter color, and more delicate structure.
While both Oregon and California produce amazing Pinot noir wines, they are very different in their taste and style. I highly recommend you try both! Because the grape can be difficult to grow, regardless of the region, good Pinot Noir isn’t typically cheap. Be prepared to spend $15-$20 for a decent bottle.
Pairings
Pinot Noir is a very food-friendly wine. It will pair nicely with grilled steak, roast chicken, and most cheeses. Some classic pairings for Pinot Noir are salmon, mushrooms, and duck. One of my most surprising pairings was barbecue — chicken and ribs. The ripe fruit in the wine pair nicely with the sweet & smoky flavors of the barbecue meats. Check out some of my other favorite pairings below.
My Favorite Pairings
Mushrooms and Pinot Noir are a match made
in heaven. Simple and delicious pairing!
Salmon with Mushrooms & Cherry Pinot Noir Sauce
Salmon and Pinot Noir are a classic pairing.
The cherries in the sauce really bring out the
fruit in the wine.
It’s a family favorite. Perfect for dessert
or morning coffee!
