WHITE PINOT NOIR TREND ALERT

WHAT DO you get when you pick cool-climate Pinot Noir grapes early, gently press them and limit skin contact?  White Pinot Noir.  In other words: Blanc de blancs Champagne sans bubbles.  White Pinot Noir is a rare, earthy and complex dry white wine has been slowly growing in popularity with American winemakers over the last few years.  Although Oregon has been producing the most, California has been getting on the white Pinot bandwagon as well with several prominent wineries (Balo, Lichen, Champs de Reves, and Angel Camp Vineyards) releasing their first vintages in 2O12 out of a desire to make something unique (read: not rosé) from their 1OO percent estate Pinot Noir vineyards.  Proprietor Tim Mullins of Balo Vineyards also wanted something to offer those who don’t drink red wine – an interesting direction to take considering that organically farmed artisanal Pinot fetches a much higher price than white wine.  But he can also see consumer tastes changing.  With demand for white and rosé up – Balo more than doubled production of those wines in recent years – Mullins made 2O cases of Pinot Noir Blanc in 2O12 then watched it fly out of the tasting room.  A definite movement in the wine world to keep an eye on.