2002 Mount Eden Edna Valley Pinot Noir

Mount Eden is a small estate in the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation. Mount Eden was founded in 1945 when Martin Ray, who grew up in the Santa Cruz foothills, purchased land on the 2,000-foot peak of Mount Eden. He had been influenced by the winemaking style of Paul Masson, the Burgundian winemaker who made wine in the Santa Cruz foothills in the late 19th century. Ray planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which was unusual in California in the 1940s, and called his estate Martin Ray. Investors eventually took control of the winery and in 1972 changed its name to Mount Eden. Today the 47-acre estate produces about 15,000 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Edna Valley AVA is within San Luis Obispo County, and within the large Central Coast AVA. Edna Valley became an AVA in 1982 and it includes 22,400 acres of extremely fertile land blessed with a long growing season. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the principal grapes, though Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albarino, Grenache, Viognier, Merlot and Petite Sirah also are grown. Spanish missionaries were growing grape vines in the Edna Valley in the 18th century, but the valley’s modern wine industry took off in the 1970s. Today there are more than 50 Edna Valley wineries.

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.