Fine Wine: Top Californian Pinot Noir

California produces some of the ripest, boldest and richest styles of wine on the planet, thanks to its warm/hot climate - which enables extended hours of sunshine, high average temperatures and just enough rainfall for quality wine production.

One of its tours de force, certainly in the minds of lovers of Burgundy reds, is the variety of styles Pinot Noir conjures up in areas of the Sunshine State, which benefit from higher altitudes, cooling sea breezes and morning fogs - Sonoma, Mendocino and Santa Barbara among them. As quality Pinot Noir is much-sought after the World over, it can be difficult to find top Californian Pinots at affordable prices - fortunately this evening we have a good spread of retail prices to suit all pockets!

There is a tendency towards fruit-forward, yet earthy and savoury styles on the coast with more concentration of darker fruit, spices and subtle oak notes further inland. We will take you through 8 very different styles of Pinot, from the Anderson Valley in the north of the North Coast, via Sonoma and Monterey, to the Santa Rita Hills in the souht of the Central Coast.

Wines on tasting:

Copain, "Les Voisins" Anderson Valley, Mendocino County 2017

Alma Fria, "Plural" Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast 2022

Head High Wines, Sonoma County 2019

De Loach Vineyards, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County 2020

Napa Cellars, Napa Valley Pinot Noir, Napa County 2018

La Crema, Monterey County 2019

Wonderwall Wine Co. Edna Valley, San Louis Obispo County 2020

Whitcraft Winery, Pence Ranch Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County 2020