2011 Bergstrom Winery Temperance Hill 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.

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.