2003 Gypsy Dancer Estates Stoller Vineyard Pinot Noir

Gypsy Dancer Estates was founded in 2004 by Christine and Gary Andrus. Gary, a former US Olympic ski champion, had founded Pine Ridge Winery in California and Archery Summit Estate in Oregon before marrying Christine and starting Gypsy Dancer in Cornelius, Oregon. Andrus died in 2009 but Christine has kept the Gypsy Dancer label going, and in 2012 made several Pinot Noir cuvees sourced from Oregon grapes.

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.