1998 Blackjack Ranch Laetitia Vineyard Pinot Noir

Blackjack Ranch was founded in the 1990s by Roger Wisted, who invented and patented a variation of the blackjack card game. Trademarked as California Blackjack, the success of that venture allowed him to buy land north of Santa Barbara where he planted vineyards. His debut commercial releases were in 1997. Today the estate produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Noir and its flagship wine, Harmonie, which is a Bordeaux blend.

Central Coast AVA is a huge wine producing area that extends from Santa Barbara County in the south to San Francisco in the north. With more than 100,000 vineyard acres, it includes parts of six counties near the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 20 smaller AVAs lie within the Central Coast AVA. Central Coast earned appellation status in 1985. Included in the appellation are parts of the counties of Contra Costa, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. Nearly every grape varietal grown in California is grown somewhere in the Central Coast AVA, though Chardonnay accounts for nearly 50% of the entire wine grape crop.

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.