$42 | 2018 Andrew Rich Eola Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is one of the most popular red wine varieties in the world, loved for its light body, high acidity and smooth, velvety texture. Oregon Pinot Noirs are the perfect balance between the fruity sweet California style and the light and earthy Burgundies. These beautifully balanced wines often show characteristics of tart cranberry, fresh raspberry, and freshly tilled earth.

While Pinot Noirs from Oregon may seem expensive, the bottles for $40 and above are worth the extra money. These tend to gain complexity and body from the high-quality oak they are aged in. In Oregon Pinot Noir, French oak adds cinnamon, clove, and vanilla notes in the wine. Wines with less oak often get their body and tannin from grape skins and tend to be slightly more bitter. This is an important factor to pay attention to when searching for the style you like and to know which wines to buy.