Willamette Valley
I’ve always focused more on wine regions outside the United States. It’s not that I don’t like American wines, but I find foreign wines and labels more of a challenge. I also feel I have a better understanding of American regions, climates and all the things that go with them than I do of other places such as South Africa, France and New Zealand. However, I decided I needed to take a look at some of the wine regions closer to home.
The Willamette Valley is Oregon’s leading wine region. Nearly two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards call the Willamette Valley home. It is the largest American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Oregon, covering 3,438,000 acres. The Willamette Valley has become a premier producing region for Pinot Noir in the United States.
