We’re big Burgundy Pinot Noir Fans, but in all fairness, we have always maintained that some of the best Pinot Noir outside of its home turf in France comes from cool climate areas like Sonoma County, including Carneros, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast AVA. These are considered some of the coolest wine-growing regions in California, and the style here tends to be juicier, fruitier, and more full-bodied than Burgundian Pinot Noir.
Sonoma County is only slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island, but it has 19 sub-AVAs, 1,800 grape growers farming 62,000 acres of grapes, and 425 wineries ranging from family-run businesses to large corporate-owned enterprises. More than 13,000 acres are dedicated to Pinot Noir, with vineyards that span from Alexander Valley in the north to Carneros in the south and with altitudes ranging from sea level all the way up to 2,500 feet…