Passion and Pioneers: Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

When David Lett planted Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley in 1966, he wasn’t just starting a vineyard — he was making a declaration. At a time when few believed Oregon could rival the great cool-climate regions of the world, Lett, soon nicknamed “Papa Pinot,” insisted that this quiet valley possessed the climate, soils, and patience required to produce Pinot Noir of finesse, elegance, and age-worthy depth.

A handful of like-minded pioneers soon followed, and from those early acts of faith grew one of the most dynamic wine regions in the United States. In the early days, Oregon wine guides listed only a few dozen wineries statewide. Today, Oregon is home to nearly 800 wineries and more than 1,000 vineyards, cultivating over 70 grape varieties across roughly 30,000 acres. And yet, Pinot Noir remains the heart of it all: nearly two-thirds of Oregon’s wine production is devoted to this singular grape, making Pinot Noir virtually synonymous with Oregon wine.

From the warmer appellations of Southern Oregon, to the classic estates of the Willamette Valley, to the cooler, wind-swept vineyards of the Columbia Gorge, Pinot Noir is grown across the state — each site offering its own accent, structure, and expression.

For years, the highest praise bestowed upon Oregon Pinot Noir was that it could pass for Burgundy. Many producers still work in a Burgundian idiom, honoring that lineage with restraint and precision. But after more than five decades of focused exploration, Oregon’s winemakers now possess an intimate understanding of their soils, clones, and microclimates. Increasingly, they are shaping a Pinot Noir identity that is unmistakably their own — one rooted not in imitation, but in place.

In this seminar, we’ll explore the young history, rapid evolution, and remarkable diversity of Oregon Pinot Noir. We’ll trace how a single grape came to define an entire state — and, most importantly, we’ll taste how Oregon Pinot Noir tastes like Oregon. 

Wines TBA

All prices listed shown are regular retail. Significant discounts offered on all wines at the tasting.

Due to the their highly allocated nature, some wines may change without notice.

CHARCUTERIE BOARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN DELAFIELD

Painting - Carl Morris, Western Landscape of the Oregon Hillsides.