Pinot Noir (USA)

The cold climates of Oregon and North California are perfect for Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir in USA

The cold climates of Oregon and North California are perfect for Pinot Noir.

The best known regions are:

Willamette Valley (Oregon)
Sonoma Coast (California north coast)
Los Carneros (California Sonoma and Napa)
Santa Barbara County (California central coast)

Well Known Oregon Regions

AVALocation
Willamette ValleyFrom Portland to Eugene
Chehalem MountainsWillamette Valley
Dundee HilsWillamette Valley
Eola-Amity Hills AVAWillamette Valley
McMinnvilleWillamette Valley
Ribbon RidgeWillamette Valley
Yamhill-CarltonWillamette Valley
Wiliamette AVAs

Willamette Valley AVAs Map from Willamette Valley Wineries Association.

Pinot Noir in California

In general, California is too warm for Pinot Noir, but there are exceptions:

Mendocino County in the northmost CA
Chilled by the Pasific Ocean.

Sonoma Coast in northern CA
Cooled down by the ocean winds.

Los Carneos between Sonoma and Napa
Cooled down by the morning fog from the San Pablo Bay.

Santa Barbara County on the central coast
Cooled down by sea breezes from both south and west.

AVALocation
Anderson ValleyMendocino County
Sonoma CoastSonoma County
Russian River ValleySonoma County
Los CarnerosSonoma and Napa County
Santa Cruz MountainsSanta Cruz County
Santa Lucia HighlandsMonterey County
Santa Rita HillsSanta Barbara County
California AVAs

Other Regions

AVAState
Columbia ValleyWashington
Walla Walla ValleyWashington
Finger Lakes (Keuka,Seneca,Canandaigua,Cayuga)New York
Hudson River RegionNew York