Winemaker Notes
The Annapolis Region lies in the remote northwest corner of the Sonoma Coast AVA near Sea Ranch. This is the coolest region of the AVA due not only to the close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, but also the 500 to 800-foot elevation of the vineyards that puts them squarely in the foggy and windy inversion layer that sweeps up the Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River.
This wine is a blend of four wines from three vineyards in the Annapolis Region: Alma Fria Estate, Campbell Ranch and Peay Vineyard Estate. Pinot Noir from this region tends to reflect the cool climate, emphasizing a balance of fruit, earth and floral aromas with good acidity and fine tannins.
This wine is a collaboration of the talented winemakers from Peay Vineyards (Vanessa Wong), Failla Wines (Ehren Jordan, Alma Fria (Carroll Kemp) and Gros Ventre Cellars (Chris Pittenger).
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.