The Best West Coast Pinot Noir Wines, According To The Top Wine Competitions

Oregon and California are the heart of America’s Pinot Noir region, producing roughly 95% of the varietal. Here’s a selection of 20 highly acclaimed Pinot Noir wines from Oregon and California, each awarded gold medals by Decanter and other international wine competitions.

The West Coast Pinot Noir zone runs from approximately the Columbia River to Santa Barbara. Varying in width from as little as one mile to as much as 50 miles. The suitability of vineyard sites depends on elevation and proximity to the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. Generally speaking, vineyards are closer to the coast and at higher elevations as you move further south.

Oregon’s Pinot Noir Wines

The Willamette Valley is Oregon’s central Pinot-producing zone, responsible for 95% of Pinot Noir wines and 82% of Pinot Noir grapes. The main production zone is roughly 40 miles long from Portland to Salem and between 10 and 15 miles wide on average, subdivided across 10 sub-AVAs and the larger Willamette Valley AVA.

Pinot Noir grapes, and wines are also produced to the south in the Elkton, Umpqua Valley, Rogue Valley, Red Hill, and Applegate Valley AVAs. Although the Northern Willamette Valley gets the limelight, several Pinot Noir producers in Southern Oregon make excellent wines. See DANCIN Vineyards, Foris Vineyards, Dwell Wines, Naumes Suncrest Winery, and Del Rio, among several outstanding wine producers.

Ken Wright Cellars Shea Vineyard Pinot, $67

Ken Wright Cellars produces highly terroir-driven, single-vineyard wines. The Shea Vineyard, one of Oregon’s most highly rated vineyards, features a rich bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, and spice, with earthy undertones and a silky finish that lingers on the palate.

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, $98

Domaine Serene is known for premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wine features red cherry, plum, and hints of vanilla, with a balanced, elegant finish.

The Four Graces Dundee Hills Reserve Pinot Noir, $39

The Four Graces produces rich, balanced Pinot Noir in Oregon’s Dundee Hills. The wine features ripe cherry, raspberry, and clove with a smooth, elegant finish.

Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir, $45

Cristom is known for its biodynamic practices and exceptional Pinot Noir. The wine features blackberry, raspberry, earthy spice, and floral hints with an elegant, mineral-laced finish.

Soter Vineyards North Valley Pinot Noir, $31

Soter Vineyards focuses on biodynamic practices and terroir-focused Pinot Noir. The wine features strawberry, raspberry, and earthy notes with a balanced, refined finish.

Archery Summit Estate Pinot Noir, $57

Archery Summit specializes in estate-grown Pinot Noir. The wine features graphite, oak wood spice, crushed red strawberries/fresh strawberry jam, allspice, cardamom, and sandalwood, with a ripe, well-integrated tannic backbone and a long, fruity finish.

Adelsheim Breaking Ground Pinot Noir, $53

Adelsheim was one of the founding wineries in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The wine features red cherry, floral/potpourri, and subtle wood spice with a long, structured finish.

Rex Hill Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, $38

Rex Hill is a pioneer of sustainably produced Pinot Noir. The wine features cherry, cranberry, and earthy notes with a well-balanced, fruit-laced finish.

Alexana Revana Vineyard Pinot Noir, $63

Alexana is a Dundee producer known for its single-vineyard Pinot Noirs. This wine features dark cherry, red berry, and earthy tones with a refined, smooth finish.

California’s Pinot Noir Wines

California has four main producing zones: the Russian River, Carneros, Monterrey, and Santa Barbara. The soils are disparate, featuring a range of sedimentary, decomposed volcanic and alluvial soils with, notably, limestone in Santa Cruz/Monterrey Mountains (Mt. Harlan AVA). The Harlan AVA and the San Benito AVA are the only regions with significant carbonate soils along the American west coast. The resulting wines are deeply colored, featuring ripe fruit, high alcohol, robust and jammy red and black berry notes. Cooler growing regions like Carneros or the Sonoma coast produce leaner, more tannic wines with more pronounced minerality.

Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, $112

Kosta Browne is a well-regarded Sonoma producer known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines with bold expressions. The wine features red cherry, pomegranate, and hints of spice, with a silky, balanced finish.

Williams Selyem Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $138

Williams Selyem is a pioneering Russian River Valley winery producing outstanding Pinot Noir. The wine features ripe red berries, cherry, and earthy notes, with hints of cinnamon and a smooth finish.

Emeritus Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir, $49

Emeritus focuses on single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, showcasing Sonoma County terroir. The wine features strawberry, plum, and rose petals with a hint of minerality and a lingering finish.

Littorai Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, $84

Littorai, in Sonoma, emphasizes sustainable viticulture and complex, refined wines. The wine features blackberry, dark cherry, and oak spices of cinnamon and clove with a long, smooth finish.

Foxen Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, $68

Santa Barbara’s Foxen Winery crafts expressive, vineyard-driven wines. The wine features red berries, cherry, and a hint of cola, with a soft, elegant finish.

Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, $47

Brewer-Clifton, in Santa Barbara’s Santa Rita Hills, produces highly expressive, terroir-driven wines with a smooth, balanced finish featuring black cherry, raspberry, and subtle spice.

Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, $52

Goldeneye, part of Duckhorn, produces rich, fruit-forward Pinot Noir in Mendocino. The wine features dark cherry, plum, and a hint of oak spices, with a smooth, polished finish.

Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $72

Merry Edwards focuses on small-batch Pinot Noir with deep flavor and complexity. The wine features ripe cherry, plum, and spice, with a smooth, lingering finish.

J Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $44

Known for its sparkling wines, J Vineyards also produces excellent Pinot Noir. This wine features raspberry, cherry, and a touch of earth, with a smooth, balanced finish.

Siduri Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, $25

Siduri produces vineyard-specific Pinot Noir from California and Oregon. This wine features strawberry, cranberry, and earthy tones with a soft, elegant finish. At an average price of $25 it’s also one of the top values in California Pinot Noir.

Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir Carneros, $71

Etude focuses on complex, terroir-driven Pinot Noir. This wine features dark cherry, cola, and spice, with a smooth, well-rounded finish.

These 20 Pinot Noir wines are all gold medalists from Decanter and other major wine competitions. They are easily among the best Pinot Noir wines in Oregon and California. All of them are worth trying and belong in your wine cellar.