2016 Sojourn Cellars Walala Vineyard Pinot Noir

Sojourn Cellars in Sonoma was founded in 2001 when Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley decided to produce small quantities of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Bradley was an assistant winemaker at Arrowood Vineyards and Winery and is the head winemaker at Sojourn. The estate sources grapes from the Sonoma Coast and Rutherford, in Napa Valley. Sojourn’s Pinot Noirs have earned praise from wine reviewers, including Robert M. Parker Jr., who has often rated the wines in the low 90s. Sojourn also produces Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from the legendary Beckstoffer Vineyard. Wines are made in limited amounts of a few hundred cases.

Sonoma Coast AVA runs from San Pablo Bay in the south to Mendocino County in the north. It includes 7,000 vineyard acres and earned AVA status in 1987. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean means it gets double the rainfall of nearby inland appellations and the ocean gives the appellation a relatively cool climate. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can thrive in these conditions, and there are numerous producers making critically acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

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.