2013 Peay Vineyards Savoy Pinot Noir

Peay Vineyards is in Cloverdale on the West Sonoma Coast. It was founded in the mid 1990s by brothers Nick and Andy Peay. The brothers wanted to make Burgundian wines and eventually bought property on a hilltop above a river gorge four miles from the Pacific Ocean. They run it together with winemaker Vanessa Wong, who is married to Nick. Wong previously was a winemaker at Peter Michael Winery and worked at Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Domaine Jean Gros in Vosne-Romanee. Peay makes wines only from their estate vineyard. They are best known for Pinot Noir but also makes Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier and Roussanne/Marsanne.

Mendocino AVA was established in 1984 and amended in 1989. It includes numerous sub-appellations. Mendocino AVA is entirely within Mendocino County, and the AVA is known for its Mediterranean climate. Vintners successfully grow Carignan, Charbono, Grenache, Zinfandel, Petit Sirah and Syrah. In cooler parts of the region Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also grown. Mendocino County is home to nearly 600 vineyards, and many have been certified organic for decades, thanks to the region’s famous “green and sustainable” approach to agriculture and nearly everything else. Mendocino was named for 16th century explorers, a pair of brothers whose last name was Mendoza. Winemaking, however, didn’t start until the 19th century when some would-be gold miners decided it was more profitable to make wine than to pan for gold. Italian immigrants in the late 19th century continued to establish winemaking ventures.

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.