7 Stellar Sonoma County Pinot Noirs to Drink Right Now

Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
·1 min read

Even the most dedicated Napa wine lover will admit that Pinot Noir grows better in Sonoma County, situated over the mountains and just to the west of Napa Valley. Slightly bigger than Rhode Island, Sonoma is home to 19 sub-AVAs, 62,000 acres of grapes, 1,800 grape growers, and more than 425 wineries ranging from boutique family-run operations to massive corporate enterprises. Its position alongside the Pacific Ocean provides cooling conditions that are perfect for the cultivation of Pinot Noir.

Named for the French words for “pine” and “black,” Pinot Noir’s tight pinecone-shaped clusters of grapes are susceptible to mold and mildew, so the variety thrives in cool weather wine regions where these conditions are less likely to develop. Sonoma County has more than 13,000 acres of Pinot Noir vineyards that span from Alexander Valley in the north to Carneros in the south with altitudes ranging from over 2,500 feet all the way down to sea level. Sonoma County Pinot Noirs are a bit more powerful and extracted when compared to French versions, which we both love, but we must admit we are big fans of Sonoma Pinot Noirs as well. You can expect well-polished, smooth, and silky tannins and flavors of orange zest, red raspberry, red currant, strawberry, brown baking spices, vanilla, cherry, and powdered chocolate. We tasted more than 60 bottles and pared it down to these seven. We hope you enjoy them.

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