Explore iconic wines from the 45th parallel, where Burgundy, Piedmont, Rhône, and Oregon express precision, tension, and terroir through latitude.

What unites these wines is not grape variety or country, but latitude. Along the 45th parallel, vineyards exist at the edge of reliable ripening, where long summer days meet cool nights and wines are shaped by restraint rather than force. In Piedmont, Nebbiolo achieves its haunting aromatics and firm, noble structure; in the Northern Rhône, Syrah gains pepper, mineral tension, and savory depth; in Beaujolais, Gamay moves beyond simple fruit into stony, age-worthy complexity; and in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir finds clarity, lift, and quiet power. Each wine speaks with a different accent, yet all share the same defining traits—balance, precision, and a transparent sense of place—revealing why the 45th parallel remains one of wine’s most reliable coordinates for greatness.

This marginal ripening, amplified by dramatic diurnal shifts, preserves acidity, heightens aromatics, and builds tension. Each wine is a distinct voice shaped by the same climatic forces, translating latitude into unmistakable balance and sense of place.

The 45th parallel is one of wine’s quiet constants. Circle the globe and this latitude intersects some of the world’s most revered vineyards, places where long daylight hours, cool nights, and marginal ripening create wines defined by tension, finesse, and age-worthiness.

Different voices.
Different regions.
One latitude.
Unmistakable precision.

Featured Wines

2018 Cascina Baricchi, Barbaresco “Rose delle Casasse” Riserva (Piedmont, Italy)

At the 45th parallel in Piedmont, Nebbiolo reaches its most refined and transparent expression, shaped by long daylight hours, cool nights, and slow, marginal ripening. Rose delle Casasse embodies this balance perfectly, translating latitude into lifted aromatics, fine tannins, and remarkable clarity rather than sheer power. The rare Nebbiolo Rosé clone amplifies delicacy and perfume, allowing soil, vine age, and microclimate on the Neive–Treiso border to speak with precision. This is Barbaresco defined by restraint and tension—hallmarks of great wines born at the edge of ripeness.

Cascina Baricchi’s Barbaresco “Rose delle Casasse” Riserva is one of the most remarkable wines to emerge from Piemonte in recent decades. Crafted entirely from the rare Nebbiolo Rosé clone—once a vital component of Barolo and Barbaresco but nearly extinct today, it comes from century‑old vines planted in 1913 on the border of Neive and Treiso. Natale Simonetta, whose lineage traces back to Angelo Gaja’s grandfather, has dedicated himself to preserving this treasure, farming naturally and vinifying with uncompromisingly traditional methods.

This is an absolute must‑buy for Piemontese purists. The SommSelect team had the rare opportunity to taste this wine twice last month—once in our office and again at the importer’s Bay Area trade event. On both occasions, it revealed seamless, ethereal layers of rose petals, lifted aromatics, and beautifully integrated tannins, confirming its place among the most distinctive and unforgettable Barbarescos we’ve encountered.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of rose, cherry, and red currant. On the palate, silky tannins, earthy undertones, and a long, refined finish. Signature Nebbiolo elegance and structure, showcasing Piedmont’s cool-climate precision.

2022 Domaine Lionnet, Cornas “Terre Brûlée” (Northern Rhône, France)

In the Northern Rhône, the 45th parallel delivers Syrah with structure, savory depth, and unmistakable mineral tension. Cornas sits at this latitude’s muscular edge, where granite soils and cooling influences preserve freshness even in powerful vintages. Lionnet’s Terre Brûlée channels this equilibrium, capturing the dark fruit and spice of Syrah while maintaining lift, grip, and age-worthy balance. It is a pure expression of place, where latitude reins in intensity and allows terroir to shape complexity.

Here's a Northern Rhône master whose wines remain a well-kept secret among insiders: Domaine Lionnet. This tiny, family-run estate in Cornas crafts Syrahs of remarkable purity and tension, wines that echo the soulful traditions of legends like Noël Verset and Robert Michel.

There’s the Cornas you read about in textbooks, then there’s the reality of the market. There simply isn’t much “old school” Cornas bottled anymore, and if you are fortunate enough to find it, bottles tend to either be too young to drink or overpriced. Lionnet is, despite its rabid following among sommeliers, still an outlier. When Ludovic, a highly talented winemaker originally from the Savoie, married Corinne, whose family has been growing grapes in Cornas since the 16th (!) century, a new—if tiny—wine dynasty was launched.

Tasting Notes: Dark berries, black pepper, smoked herbs, and mineral notes. Full-bodied yet precise, with firm tannins and a lingering, savory finish. A textbook Syrah from a region defined by old vines and granite soils.

2023 Evesham Wood, “Mahonia Vineyard,” Eola-Amity Hills (Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA)

Few regions outside Europe demonstrate the influence of the 45th parallel as clearly as Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Here, Pinot Noir thrives in cool conditions defined by extended daylight, sharp diurnal shifts, and persistent coastal airflow. Mahonia Vineyard sits squarely in this sweet spot, producing Pinot Noir that emphasizes energy, transparency, and finesse over weight. This wine reflects latitude-driven precision—vibrant acidity, fine texture, and a quiet mineral core that speaks directly to site.

Evesham Wood is one of Oregon’s quiet benchmarks, a winery that has consistently prioritized restraint, site transparency, and sustainability long before those became buzzwords. Founded in 1986, the estate entered its modern golden era when Erin Nuccio took full control in 2010. Since then, Nuccio has earned a reputation as one of the Willamette Valley’s most precise and thoughtful Pinot Noir craftsmen—someone whose wines consistently deliver clarity, tension, and soul rather than excess. His approach is resolutely hands-on: native yeast fermentations, manual punch-downs, long élevage, and minimal intervention, always with an eye toward letting vineyard character lead.

The Mahonia Vineyard is one of the Willamette Valley’s original sustainably farmed sites, planted in 1985 and located in the cooling influence of the Van Duzer Corridor.

Tasting Notes: Bright red cherry, raspberry, and subtle floral notes. Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, silky texture, and a whisper of forest-floor minerality — pure cool-climate Pinot Noir.

2023 Château Bonnet, Chénas, Cru Beaujolais, “Chat’ au Bonnet” (Beaujolais, France)

Beaujolais’ position along the 45th parallel gives Gamay a seriousness often overlooked, especially in cru villages like Chénas. Here, granitic soils and cooler conditions slow ripening, shifting the grape away from simple fruit toward structure, minerality, and age-worthiness. Château Bonnet’s Chénas captures this balance beautifully, delivering freshness and vibrancy while retaining depth and tension. It is Gamay shaped by latitude, where elegance and precision take precedence over immediacy.

The 2023 Château Bonnet Chénas comes from one of Beaujolais’ most intriguing and under-celebrated corners: Chénas, the smallest of the region’s ten recognized crus. Unlike the playful “nouveau” style that many people first think of when they hear Beaujolais, Chénas has a long tradition of producing serious, structured, mineral-driven Gamay that can age gracefully and pair beautifully with hearty cuisine. Château Bonnet itself has roots in traditional family farming and craft. The estate farms old vines on steep granitic slopes—a growing site that naturally limits yields but amplifies concentration, perfume, and the stony essence Beaujolais lovers chase.

xIn crafting the 2023 Chénas, Bonnet’s growers focus on letting the vineyard speak first. Hand-harvested fruit from carefully maintained parcels is fermented with native yeasts and handled with restraint in the cellar so that aromatics and mineral energy are preserved. Aging in neutral vessels keeps texture pure and focused, allowing the wine’s core—bright red fruit, forest floor, and the region’s signature licorella-like slate minerality—to shine. The result is a Cru Beaujolais that feels grown-up without losing the charm, vibrancy, and food-friendly nature that makes Beaujolais endlessly enjoyable.

Tasting Notes: Juicy red fruits, spice, and a hint of earthiness. Light to medium-bodied, vibrant, and energetic — classic Gamay expression with freshness and drinkability.