2014 Benovia Tilton Hill Pinot Noir, 1.5ltr

Benovia was founded in 2005 when Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane decided to leave their careers in health care and purchase a vineyard near Healdsburg. The couple found a business partner in Mike Sullivan, a winemaker who now is co-owner, general manager and winemaker. Benovia owns 71 acres of vineyards in the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Sonoma County AVAs. The estate makes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Grenache, and the wine is generally available only through the estate’s mailing list.

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.