2020 Liberty Station California Pinot Noir

Where it’s planted makes all the difference. Pinot Noir vines tend to prefer what growers call “intermediate” climates with long, cool growing seasons, giving the grapes an opportunity to ripen fully. For this reason, you’ll often find Pinot Noir growing in protected valleys or near large bodies of water.

Bodies of water don’t get much larger than the Pacific Ocean, and that ocean moderates the temperatures in places like Sonoma County, southern Napa Valley and California’s Central Coast (including Santa Barbara).

Pinot Noir from those regions is typically rich, fruity and lush in style. The ample sun and controlled temperatures make it easy for growers to pick at the perfect moment when ripeness is optimal. And when grapes can be sourced from multiple regions, as was the case with the 2020 Liberty Station cuvee, the resulting wine is a quintessential California Pinot Noir.