2018 Bergstrom Winery Bergstrom Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bergstrom Wines is located in Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley, the heart of Oregon’s Pinot Noir country. Though the winery is young, having produced its first vintage only in 1999, it is already winning accolades from critics and connoisseurs. Owned by John and Karen Bergstrom, the estate includes a total of 37 acres planted to Pinot Noir and 5 acres planted to Chardonnay. Prior to creating the winery’s first vintage, son Josh Bergstrom spent time in Burgundy learning winemaking and vineyard practices. The winery is organic and prides itself on artisanal winemaking.

Dundee Hills AVA is in Yamhill County, and it is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, Oregon’s best known appellation. Dundee Hills is about 30 miles southwest of Portland, and has 1,300 vineyard acres. It was awarded AVA status in 2004 and, like much of Oregon, is known for Pinot Noir. Several of Oregon’s 20th century wine pioneers established their vineyards and wineries in Dundee Hills, adding to its status as a region long-recognized for producing high quality, iconic Oregon wines. Eyrie Vineyards, Erath Winery and Sokol Blosser remain some of Oregon’s most celebrated producers, and all were founded in what is now Dundee Hills in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

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.