2012 Fort Ross Fort Ross Vineyard Sea Slopes Pinot Noir

Fort Ross Vineyard was established in 1988 when Lester and Linda Schwartz bought property in the coastal mountains over Fort Ross. Vineyards were planted during the 1990s while the couple, who both came from South Africa as young professionals to work in San Francisco, took winemaking and viticulture classes and learned the wine business. Today Fort Ross Vineyard includes 55 acres of vineyards and is one of the leading producers in the Ross-Seaview AVA, which was formally approved in 2011. The estate's first vintage was in 2000, and in 2009 they hired Jeff Pisoni of Pisoni Vineyards as winemaker. Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that Fort Ross “wines are all bottled unfined and unfiltered, with the Chardonnay coming from Old Hyde and Wente field selections. The Pinot Noir is generally an assemblage of clones such as Calera, Pommard, Swan and Dijon 115 and 777. These are impressive Burgundian-style Pinot Noirs that merit serious attention.”

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.