A Tour of Wine Grapes: Pinot Noir Part 2

Pinot Noir 🍷 Photo by Ursula Brühl, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) on Wikimedia Commons Last time we looked at the Pinot Noir grape and the various countries where it is grown. Now, let’s look at two specific countries — the U.S. and New Zealand. 🇺🇸 The United States: Coastal Coolers In the U.S., Pinot Noir thrives primarily in California and Oregon, relying on marine fog and ocean breezes to cool the delicate vines. Russian River Valley (Sonoma County): A natural funnel for Pacific fog, this legendary region produces luxurious, universally loved wines. They are famously lush, silky, and fruit-forward—bursting with ripe red cherry, plum, and signature undertones of warm baking spices like cola and nutmeg. The San Luis Obispo & Paso Robles Corridor: This area highlights a dramatic contrast on California’s Central Coast. The Edna Valley AVA is a cool-climate paradise where an east-west valley funnels freezing ocean air to create an extended growing season. It yields remarkably balanced, m

by Marc Kirkpatrick · source ↗