2009 Talisman Spring Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Eighty-one cases of Talisman 2001 Carneros Pinot Noir "Kathy's Cuvée" is dedicated to the memory of Kathy Polucha-Kessler, a friend of Scott and Marta Rich. Kathy died in an avalanche while backcountry skiing in British Columbia. Proceeds from this cuvée will benefit the Truckee Donner Land Trust for the construction of a bridge in Kathy's memory. The bridge will be one of the key links of the Donner Lake Rim Trail, a trail system connecting all of the major mountain peaks surrounding Donner Lake in the North Tahoe region of California. This is a project that was near and dear to Kathy's heart.

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.