Belle Vallee Cellars Pinot Noir 2009 / 750 ml.

Oregon's Willamette Valley is the most-heralded wine region in the state, and home to some of the best Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris produced anywhere, aided in part by the especially cool growing season. The region is divided into two sub-regions, the North Willamette and South Willamette, and is named for the river of the same name which flows past the city of Portland.

Oregon's Willamette Valley is the most-heralded wine region in the state, and home to some of the best Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris produced anywhere, aided in part by the especially cool growing season. The region is divided into two sub-regions, the North Willamette and South Willamette, and is named for the river of the same name which flows past the city of Portland.

Oregon didn't burst onto the wine scene until the 1980s, but it has since carved out a name for itself as a world-class region for cooler weather wines like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. It's most famous for the former, with many critically-acclaimed Pinot Noirs originating in the region. The Willamette Valley is Oregon's most famous and most productive region. Other notable regions include the Rogue Valley, Walla Walla, and Columbia Valley.

The United States now ranks fourth in the world in wine production behind, France, Italy, and Spain. While about 90% of that wine is produced in California, other states like Oregon, New York, and Washington are establishing themselves as prime spots for wine production, as well. Just about any variety of wine can be found in production somewhere in the United States.