2022 Sojourn Cellars Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir

Sojourn Cellars in Sonoma was founded in 2001 when Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley decided to produce small quantities of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Bradley was an assistant winemaker at Arrowood Vineyards and Winery and is the head winemaker at Sojourn. The estate sources grapes from the Sonoma Coast and Rutherford, in Napa Valley. Sojourn’s Pinot Noirs have earned praise from wine reviewers, including Robert M. Parker Jr., who has often rated the wines in the low 90s. Sojourn also produces Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from the legendary Beckstoffer Vineyard. Wines are made in limited amounts of a few hundred cases.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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.