Vinery Hall

Did you just tilt your head in confusion? I did too. From the color to the flavor – stuff is mind blowing.

If you’ve gotten this far – I’ve piqued your interest. Well, maybe not me exactly. It was probably the white wine made from pinot noir I mentioned in the title. And that is completely fair. When I asked my local liquor store for a fun wine that I, ‘absolutely need to buy,’ I was expecting something off the beaten path. Maybe an orange wine. Or a wine from a less well-know grape variety. But when my wine shop bestie, Terry, said, “I have a wine pinot noir you need to try,” I think I actually gasped. After having tasted this wine, that reaction was completely just.

While other producers probably make white pinot noir, the one I am in love with is the Amity Vineyards 2022 Willamette Valley White Pinot Noir. I researched this wine and found 100% of the grapes used to produce The Amity White Pinot Noir are sourced from Hylo Vineyard in the Northern Willamette Valley in Oregon, USA. The grapes are picked in the cool early morning, pressed gently to minimize color and tannins bestowed on the wine, while still providing subtle layers of tart, juicy fruits. Once the juice as been pressed and settles, it’s fermented in a stainless-steel tank. Winemakers will opt to ferment their wine in stainless-steel tanks to keep the fruit aromas and flavors ripe. The end result is a beautiful wine (this year, a very light pink) with soft texture, light body and a beautiful finish.

As you can probably tell by now, I could pop off about this wine all day. But rather than taking my word for it, I’m going to describe the wine using WSET’s SAT tasting approach.

What is the SAT approach in wine?

It’s short for the Systematic Approach to Tasting. It works as a universal language to describe a wine based on appearance, color, aroma, palate (both structurally and in flavor) and an overall conclusion. You can also add room for food pairings and serving temperature. If this has interested you, I’d recommend considering a certificate in wine through WSET.

Appearance

You need to catch your wine at the right light and background to see properly. Try using good light and a white background to properly evaluate the color of your wine. If that’s not accessible, put a piece of paper on the table you’re using. Tilt the glass at a 45 degree angle and look at the wine from above. This wine, while technically called a ‘white’ pinot noir, has the most beautiful pale pink color.

Nose

This wine has a medium intensity with primary aromas of pear, white peach and citrus. If you’re wondering why I said primary aromas: wine gets aromas and flavors from different stages of the wine making process. Primary flavors come from the grapes and alcoholic fermentation.

Palate

I was expecting this wine to drink kind of like an unoaked chardonnay. I was thinking citrus like lemon with green apple and pear. Let me tell ya, I was mistaken. This wine drinks like a beautifully light rosé. This is a dry wine with a light body, high acidity, medium alcohol and medium flavor intensity and a medium to long finish. I detected primary flavors of orange blossom, pear, peach, lemon and grapefruit.

Conclusion

This wine is amazing. In terms of WSET definitions, I’d define it as ‘very good’. Pair this wine with anything from salty to acidic to fried foods. Try this wine with appetizers like nachos, dinners like lean fish or a chicken tacos, or heartier dishes like pizza.