Northwest Wine: Finding affordable Pinot Noir

There’s no other way to put this: Pinot Noir is expensive. It’s expensive to grow, especially in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where there’s always a threat of poor weather.

Pinot Noir is expensive to make, with expensive French oak barrels a big part of the costs.

So just opening a bottle of Pinot Noir becomes an event.

We recently asked wineries to send us red wines that retail for $30 or less, and that included a number of Pinot Noirs. For this column, we put together a list of nine Pinot Noirs that are affordable enough for everyday enjoyment.

Ask for these wines at your favorite wine merchant or contact the wineries directly.

Firesteed 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $18: Howard Rossbach has been in the wine game for 40 years and created Firesteed more than 20 years ago. Since then, it has consistently delivered great quality at fair prices. His winemaker, Bryan Croft, crafted this delicious Pinot Noir with aromas of cherry, spice and licorice, followed by racy flavors of tart cherry, strawberry and red currant. (13.4% alc.)

Pike Road Wines 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $20: Pike Road is the new project by Adam Campbell of vaunted Elk Cove Vineyards. It’s a nicely priced brand with its own tasting room in Carlton, Oregon. This inaugural effort emphasizes aromas of cherry, cocoa powder and oak. On the palate, bright acidity pushes flavors of strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate to the forefront. (13.5% alc.)

Rainstorm Winery 2013 Pinot Noir, Oregon, $17: This approachable and refreshingly delicious Pinot Noir is the work of Nicolas Quillè, head winemaker for Pacific Rim in Washington. Aromas of cherry, pomegranate and fresh herbs lead to flavors of Bing cherry, cranberry and a touch of spiciness. (13% alc.)

Kirkland Signature 2014 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $15: Willamette Valley winemaker Sarah Cabot produced this delicious Pinot Noir for Costco on behalf of Seattle-based Precept Wine. Aromas of plum, cherry and vanilla transition to flavors of raspberry and red cherry, which are backed by firm tannins through the solid finish. (13.7% alc.)

A to Z Wineworks 2014 Pinot Noir, Oregon, $19: From one of Oregon’s biggest wineries is certainly one of the largest-production Pinot Noirs in the Northwest. This reveals aromas of pomegranate and cherry pie filling, followed by flavors of blueberry and black cherry. This bright, fresh example will pair well with turkey, salmon or pork. (13.5% alc.)

Larkspur Winery 2014 Pinot Noir, Oregon, $17: Seattle’s Precept Wine is a big player in Oregon Pinot Noir, thanks to its substantial vineyard holdings. Once again, Cabot handles the winemaking in Dundee for this bottling, which carries an engaging theme of cherry, dark chocolate and oak spice. (13.7% alc.)

Indian Creek Winery 2014 Pinot Noir, Snake River Valley, $18: This second-generation winery in tiny Kuna, Idaho, produces Pinot Noirs most years, and the wines are often fascinating. This example opens with aromas of red currant and dried blueberry, followed by flavors of raspberry and cranberry. It is highlighted by mouthfilling juiciness and midpalate viscosity through the impressive finish. (12.6% alc.)

Primarius 2014 Pinot Noir, Oregon, $15: Here’s another deliciously affordable Pinot Noir from Precept and Cabot. This offers aromas of black truffle, forest floor and Bing cherry, followed by flavors of molasses, raspberry and cherry. Firm tannins back up the ample fruit and lead to a lengthy finish. (13.4% alc.)

Battle Creek Winery 2014 Unconditional Pinot Noir, Oregon, $15: Here’s another Precept brand that is priced in the $15 sweet spot. Aromas of red cherry and pomegranate lead to flavors of cherry and sweet herbs. It’s all backed by bright acidity and late-arriving tannins on the lengthy finish. (13.4% alc.)

Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue run Great Northwest Wine, an award-winning media company. Learn more about wine at www.greatnorthwestwine.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Photo courtesy of Graphite Arts Center
Amelia DiGiano’s photography is part of the “Seeing Our Planet” exhibit, which opens Friday and runs through Aug. 9 at the Graphite Arts Center in Edmonds.
A&E Calendar for July 10

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members Doug Symonds and Alysia Obina on Monday, March 3, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How to grow for show: 10 tips for prize-winning dahlias

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members share how they tend to their gardens for the best blooms.

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

The 2025 Audi A3 premium compact sedan (Provided by Audi).
2025 Audi A3 upgradesdesign and performance

The premium compact sedan looks sportier, acts that way, too.

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI sport compact hatchback (Provided by Volkswagen).
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI is a hot-hatch heartthrob

The manual gearbox is gone, but this sport compact’s spirit is alive and thriving.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.