2019 Bevan Cellars Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir

Bevan Cellars is a boutique winery in Santa Rosa, California, which uses grapes from vineyards in Oakville's Bennett Valley. The winery is owned by Russell Bevan and Victoria De Crescenzo, who met in Des Moines, moved to Minneapolis and eventually decided to give up their jobs in the dental industry to return to Napa Valley, where Russell had grown up. The couple started with a few grapevines planted in their front yard and now contract for grapes in the choice Showket Vineyard of Oakville and the Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley, in northern Sonoma Valley. Their first vintage was 2004. Bevan Cellar’s signature wines are the Cabernet Sauvignons, though they have also produced Syrah, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Robert M. Parker has been highly complimentary: “A small artisanal operation in Santa Rosa…Bevan Cellars has assembled a stunning line-up of wines….I can’t recommend this up-and-coming producer’s wines highly enough.”

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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.