2012 Red Car Estate Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot Noir

Red Car is Sonoma Coast producer founded in 2000 by Carroll Kemp and Mark Estrin, a pair of amateur winemakers who had both worked in Hollywood’s movie business. They decided to name their wine enterprise after the electric trolley cars that ran throughout Los Angeles in the first half of the 20th century. Red Car makes a portfolio of wines under several labels, but its prestige label in the Reserve, which includes Pinot Noir, Syrah and Roussane.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.