2008 Siduri Sonatera Vineyard Pinot Noir

Siduri is based in Santa Rosa but sources its Pinot Noir grapes from vineyards from Santa Barbara to the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1994 by a pair of wine enthusiasts from Texas, Adam and Dianne Lee, the couple named their enterprise after the Babylonian goddess of wine. The estate only produces Pinot Noir, which consistently wins compliments from reviewers. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Siduri “one of the California’s top Pinot Noir producers.”

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.