Notable American Pinot Noir Producers

It seems like not a day goes by that I don’t discover a new producer of Pinot Noir. In John Winthrop Haeger’s 2004 book, North American Pinot Noir, he states that “a fair estimate is that somewhere between 400 and 450 wineries make Pinot Noir” in North America. However, he recently noted in the San Francisco Chronicle that he now has 720 producers in his database. I am compiling my own list and believe the number may now exceed that. Beginning last year, I divided the major producers into four categories: Cult Pinot Noirs, Emerging Star Pinot Noirs, Just Hatched Pinot Noirs, and Reliable and Reputable Pinot Noirs. The wineries included are ones I have drank and recommend. The list is by no means complete and I am sure I have left out a favorite of yours. California and Oregon are grouped together.

A cult Pinot Noir is one that is furiously sought after by pinoaficiandos. They are produced in very small quantities and sold mainly through a mailing list, which in many cases is full and has, itself, a waiting list. In a number of cases, the wine is priced significantly above comparable wines from the same appellation and demands a premium on the secondary market. Cult Pinot Noirs are often purchased and then sold on the secondary market at a significant markup to pay for the few bottles that are kept to drink. The cult wine movement was born in California with the Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley such as Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate.

Ambullneo, Aubert, Brewer-Clifton, Brogan Cellars, Dehlinger, DuMol, george, J. Rochioli, Kalin Cellars, Kistler, Kosta Browne, Littorai, MacPhail, Marcassin, Peter Michael, Pisoni Vineyards & Winery, Radio-Coteau, Rivers-Marie, Sea Smoke, Shea Wine Cellars, Sine Qua Non, W.H. Smith Wines, Williams Selyem

Emerging producers of Pinot Noir are those of recent origin who have garnered many accolades and created significant interest among pinotphiles. Some are long-standing names that have become transformed through ownership or winemaker change into stellar producers, others are a product of the latest boom in Pinot Noir startup wineries.

Alcina Cellars, Alesia and Rhys, Alma Rosa, Ambiouness, Artesa, Aubin Verve, August West, Ayoub, B. Kosuge Wines, Badge, Balleto, Beauregard Vineyards, Belle Glos, Belle Vallee, Bonaccorsi, Buena Vista, Casa Barranca, Chasseur, Cima Collina, Clos Pepe Estate, Clos Saron, Consilience, Copain, Copeland Creek Vineyards, D’Argenzio Winery, Dain, De La Montanya, Derbes Wines, Et fille, Freeman Vineyards & Winery, Green Truck Cellars, Gundlach-Bundschu, Gypsy Dancer, Gypsy Dancer Estates, Halleck, Hope & Grace, Inman Family, Hamel, J. Lynn, J. Wilkes, Ken Brown Wines, Kenneth- Crawford, 0Lachini, Lazy River, Le Cadeau, Londer, Loring Wine Company, Lucia, Maysara, Miura, Native9, Orogeny, Peay Vineyards, Pey-Marin, Privé, R. Stuart & Co, Red Car, Roar Wines, Robert Stemmler, Row Eleven, Rusack Vineyards, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Sinor-LaVallee, Skewis, Sonnett, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Soter Vineyards, Stevenson-Barrie, Stoller Vineyards, Summerland Winery, The Donum Estate, Twomey Cellars, Varner, Van Duzer Vineyards, Vision Cellars, White Rose, Windy Oaks, Woodenhead.

Ampelos Cellars, Anthill Farms Winery, Auteur, Benovia, Bianchi, Black Cap, Cardwell Hill Cellars, Carneros Della Notte, Carr, Churchill Cellars, Cherry Hill, Clary Ranch, Corda, Elliott Family Cellars, Eno Wines, Eric Kent, Gypsy Canyon, Harrington, Jack Greek Cellars, John Tyler, Kanzler Vineyards, Kastania, Kendric, Kenneth Volk, Ketcham Estate, Kutch Wines, L’Angevin, Lookout Ridge, Mahoney Vineyards, Miller Wine Works, Molnar Family, Nicholson Ranch, Pali, Paradise Vineyard, Paul Lato Wines, Peka, Pelerin Wines, Philo Ridge, Ribbon Ridge, Ridgeway, Sanctuary, Sojourn, Stephen’s Cellars, Stubbs Vineyard, The Four Graces, Toulouse,Vergari, Vino V, Winter’s Hill.

These are consistently reliable premium producers of Pinot Noir that have a track record of crafting fine wines.

Acacia, Adelsheim, Adobe Road, Ancien, Anne Amie, Arcadian, Andrew Rich Wines, A.P. Vin, Argyle, Archery Summit, Au bon Climat, Babcock, Beaux Freres, Belle Pente, Belle Vallee, Benton-Lane, Bernardus, Bethel Heights, Bergstrom, Bouchaine, Broadley, Brickhouse, Burrell School, Byron, Calera, Cambria, Cameron, Capieux, Carpe Diem, Casa Cassara, Castalia, Chalone, Chehalem, CL Wines, Claudia Springs, Clos La Chance, Clos Saron, Clos Tita, Coleman, Costa de Oro, Cuvaison Estate, Cristom, Davis Bynum, Davis Family vineyards, David Bruce, DeLoach Domaine Alfred, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, DuMol, Dutton-Goldfield, Elk Cove, Elke Vineyards, Erath, Eyrie Vineyard, Failla-Jordan, Fess Parker, Fiddlehead Cellars, Foley Estate, Forchini, Ft Ross, Goldeneye, El Molino, Erath, Etude, Evesham Wood, EIEIO, Eyrie, Flowers, Flying Goat Cellars, Foxen, Gary Farrell, Hamacher, Handley Cellars, Hagafen, Hanzell, Hartford Family, Hirsch Estate, Hitching Post, Holdredge, Hug Cellars, Husch, Iron Horse, Joseph Swan, J Wine Co, Kellar Estate, Kenwood, Ken Wright Cellars, La Crema, Laetitia, Landmark Vineyards, Lane Tanner, Lemelson, Lincourt, Longoria, Lost Canyon, Lucas & Lewellen, Lucia, Lynmar, MacMurray Ranch, MacRostie, Marimar Estate, Martinelli, Mayacamas, Melville, Merry Edwards, Miner Family, Morgan, Moshin, Mt Eden, Mystic, Navarro, Ojai Vineyards, Olivet Lane Estate, Ortman Family, Papapietro Perry, Paradise Ridge, Patricia Green Cellars, Patz & Hall, Paul Hobbs, Penner-Ash, Ponzi, Porter Creek, Red Car, Rex Hill, Roar, Robert Mueller Cellars, Robert Sinskey, Rochioli, Roessler Cellars, Russian Hill, Rutz Cellars, Saintsbury, Salamandre, Sanford, Scherrer, Schug, Scott Paul Wines, Sebastopol Vineyards- Dutton Estate, Siduri, Sineann, Soquel Vineyards, Sonoma-Cutrer, St. Innocent, Stephen Ross Cellars, Talbott, Talisman, Talley Vineyards, Tantara, Testarossa, Tolosa, Torii Mor, Truchard, Vision Cellars, Walter Hansel, WesMar, Whitcraft, Whitethorn, Wild Hog, Wild Horse, Witness Tree, Willakenzie Estate, ZD.