2010 Littorai Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Littorai was founded in 1993 by Heidi and Ted Lemon in western Sonoma County. Ted Lemon earned an enology degree from the Universite de Dijon and worked at prestigious wineries in Burgundy in the early 1980s. In California he was founding winemaker at Chateau Woltner on Howell Mountain. Littorai makes Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, the Sonoma Coast and the Russian River. It also makes Chardonnays.

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.