In recent years, Gamay Noir has been spotted in tasting rooms all over the Willamette Valley. This is among the lightest of the red wine varieties and has lower tannins than bolder reds. This wine pairs well with a variety of foods and is intended to drink while it’s still young (meaning it is not a bottle to keep and age in a wine cellar).
The following Tualatin Valley wineries have added Gamay Noir to its library of wines:
- Cooper Mountain Vineyards (Map It) produces a Gamay Noir that fruit-forward with a bit of spice and is light to medium bodied.
- Suzor Wines makes its Gamay Noir in a “classical style,” which exudes aromas of cranberry and baking spices and a touch of cherry and cinnamon candy.
- Scotch Church Road Vineyards (Map It) produces two styles of Gamay. It’s Gamay Noir is more traditional, while it Gamay Nouveau is an even lighter-bodied red that is best served chilled.
In addition to Gamay Noir, other light red varieties you can also find in Tualatin Valley include Primitivo and Nebbiolo.
- Lolati Wines (Map It) Primitivo (most popular of Lolati Wines; luscious and fruit-forward. Nots of black plum and black licorice and paired well with steak, pasta bolognese and dark chocolate.
- DAnu Wines’ (Map It)Primitivo has an intense dark fruit aroma, but it has a balanced flavor.
- Apolloni Vineyards (Map It) specializes in Italian-style wines. The Barolo-style Nebbiolo exhibits the traits of this Italian wine with flavors of spice and cinnamon.
If you love Pinot Noir, explore some of the other light-bodied reds being produced in Tualatin Valley, from the delicate and spicy Gamay Noir to the light and approachable Italian red varieties like Primitivo and Nebbiolo.
