Oregon

Willamette Valley

Known above all for its elegant pinot noirs, this cool, damp viticultural area is home to about 200 wineries and more than 12,000 acres of vines. The majority of Oregon's producers are located here.

Umpqua Valley

The first pinot noir vines in the state were planted in this part of western Oregon, back in 1961. Forty-five years later, the first commercial grüner veltliner in America was produced in the region. Better known are the valley's pinot noir, pinot gris, and riesling in cooler areas, and merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and syrah in warmer parts of the AVA. There are more than 20 wineries, many of them family-owned.

Rogue River Valley

This small wine region, and in particular the Rogue Valley AVA, has microclimates approximating those of both Bordeaux and Burgundy, and a wide variety of wine types are made by its 20 or so wineries, drawing grapes from about 1,100 acres of vines.