Willamette Valley, Oregon

Where has Oregon’s Willamette Valley been all your life? With accolades from around the world and vibrant Portland less than an hour away, the valley is a hotspot for unparalleled Pinot Noir. Nearly 300 wineries fill the hills where the coastal climate is ideal for growing finicky Pinot Noir grapes and tall fir trees.

“It’s not the huge rush you see in Napa,” says Sue Horstmann, executive director of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, “the boutique vineyards and hands-on windery staff are very approachable here.”

And because America’s Pinot Noir consumption grew by 75 percent in the last year, Jim Bernau, owner of Willamette Valley Vineyards, is unable to meet demand with over half his production devoted to the grape.