2012 Adelsheim Vintage 35 Pinot Noir

Adelsheim is one of Oregon’s most admired and established producers. It was founded in 1971 when David and Ginny Adelsheim bought property in the Willamette Valley. The young, idealistic couple had just returned from a summer in Europe, and were inspired by the wine they enjoyed there to try making their own. They planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling on 15 acres in 1972. Their first commercial vintage was the 1978 bottling. Today Adelsheim owns 223 vineyards acres on ten sites in the Willamette Valley and are business partners with Lynn and Jack Loacker. The Adelsheims and the Loackers own the estate together. Adelsheim still focuses on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.

Oregon is the fourth largest producer of wine in the U.S., after California, which produces nearly 90% of all wine made in the U.S., Washington State and New York State. Though winemaking in Oregon started in the 1850s, thanks in part to several German immigrants who planted German wine grapes, as in other American wine regions the Oregon industry folded in the beginning of the 20th century during Prohibition. Starting in the early 1960s modern winemaking pioneers planted vineyards in south central Oregon and the more northern Willamette Valley. Pinot Noir did well in the cool microclimates of Oregon, and by the late 1960s the state was already earning a reputation for its artisanal Pinot Noirs. By the 1970s innovative Oregon viticulturalists were traveling to Burgundy for Pinot Noir clones, and to Alsace for Pinot Blanc clones. Today the state has about 20,000 acres planted to wine grapes and more than 400 wineries. Pinot Noir remains the state’s most celebrated wine, followed by Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris. The Willamette Valley just south of Portland is Oregon’s most acclaimed wine producing region.

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.