2009 Papapietro Perry Mukaida Vineyard Pinot Noir

Papapiertro Perry Winery is in Healdsburg. It was founded by Ben Papapietro and Bruce Perry. Papapietro is a San Francisco native of Italian heritage who grew up with a father who made wine in the basement. Perry is also a San Francisco native and came from a family that made wine for their own table. Papapietro and Perry met while helping harvest grapes in Sonoma County and by the 1990s were making their own wines. Along with their wives, the two men own and operate the estate. Grapes are sourced from Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Papapietro produces Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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.