Why Oregon Winemakers Are Trading Their Pinot Noir for Chardonnay

By Robb Report June 2024

"The saying “If it grows together, it goes together” is generally considered to have a culinary connotation, but it can also be applied to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, two Burgundy natives that thrive side by side in multiple wine regions around the world. Robb Report has covered the rise of both varieties in Oregon’s Willamette Valley over the past several years, and it seems that although Pinot Noir was the star and Chardonnay held a supporting role, the white varietal is coming into its own in the Beaver State and may soon eclipse the popularity of its darker-hued relative. As consumers’ thirst for Chardonnay continues unabated and producers view it through a new lens, the varietal has found itself on the fast track to success in Oregon, with many vintners and growers planting or grafting prized blocks once reserved for Pinot Noir to Chardonnay."

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