I have an unwritten rule that if wineries in a wine region tend to make several wines in their portfolio from the same grape, that grape is the popular grape. For example, it is easy to find multiple Sauvignon Blancs at wineries in the Marlborough wine region of New Zealand. If you are looking Riesling as a popular grape head to Old Mission Peninsula or Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan and the Finger Lakes wine region of New York. Pinot Noir is the popular grape in the Willamette wine region in Oregon.

We had a 2008 Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Noir with dinner last evening. Willamette Valley Pinots are among my favorites for that variety. The ruby colored wine was translucent. The fruity aroma and taste had a silky mouth feel. The wine was a great accompaniment to pork tenderloin with an apricot glaze.

We wrote about Duck Pond Cellars when we visited the winery a couple years ago. We also visited several other Willamette Valley wineries. We are looking forward to a late winter visit to other wineries in this region. One of the wines I’ll pay close attention to is the Pinot Noir. The variety is not on my list of favorites, although I do have a soft spot for the wines crafted in this region of Oregon. I’ve never made a wine from Pinot Noir grapes and probably won’t in the future, my skill doesn’t match the skill needed for creating a great Pinot Noir. If there is a grape variety that isn’t on your top list of favorites, visit a wine region that specializes in that varietal grape and discover if that wine travel experience may change your mind.

Cheers,
Terry