Celebrating the cool-climate character and complexity of California’s most revered winegrowing regions, our Appellation Series wines are a study in terroir with soulful elegance and energetic intensity. The unique microclimate of these regions is the result of tectonic plate movements over 20 million years ago, causing mountains to rise out of the ocean, break off the plate, and rotate clockwise. This created one of the most defined transverse ranges on the Pacific Coast, with cooling coastal fog and wind being funneled to the vines through the East/West maritime mouth.

Sta. Rita Hills, in particular, stands out as one of the world’s best cool-climate growing regions for Pinot Noir. The area’s geographical features, including its distinct East/West orientation, allow the region to benefit from the constant influence of coastal fog, which provides a cooling effect that enhances the quality of the grapes. This cooler environment allows the vines to grow with more complexity and depth of flavor, making Sta. Rita Hills a celebrated terroir for crafting exceptional wines.

The 2020 Sta. Rita Hills harvest was marked by an early start, with picking beginning two weeks earlier than usual due to several heat spikes throughout the summer. However, the harvest was extended an additional five weeks because of slower ripening conditions. This longer growing period allowed for greater character development in the grapes, resulting in a vintage that showcases vibrant flavors and exceptional complexity.

Bursting with vibrant red fruit, baking spice, and an earthy core, the 2020 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is a fascinatingly layered wine that reflects the unique terroir of this cool-climate region. The longer growing season and careful attention to vineyard practices have produced a wine that is both delightfully unique and rich in flavor. Larger yields in 2020 enabled the winery to experiment with higher utilization of concrete and wood fermentation vessels, adding to the wine’s distinctive texture and depth.