The grapes for the Empress Vineyards 2019 Pinot Noir are grown in Los Carneros, the appellation of Sonoma County, which spans both the southern ends of both Napa and Sonoma Counties is one of the coolest average temperature climates, along with the Russian River Valley, in either Napa or Sonoma Counties. Situated at the top of the San Francisco Bay (San Pablo Bay portion) the Appellation or AVA is cooled by the cold bay waters and the breezes developed by the Bay as the hot California interior draws cold air from the Pacific. The average summer morning temperature is 52°F. The average summer afternoon temperature is 78°F. This cool climate makes it a perfect place to grow world-class Pinot Noir.

Our Pinot Noir is made from the two most aromatic Pinot Noir clones, 115 and 667, and it is what a great Pinot should be: light, delicate, complex, and aromatic. Add to this the special character derived from the appellation, which is a mineral-focused austerity that directs attention to the more subtle nuances of this hauntingly delicious wine. The nose is captivating. You don’t have to drink the wine to enjoy it. The color is as it should be, not too dark, a ruby hue with a purple edge when young. The old saying is that if you can’t read the New York Times through your Pinot, it is too dark. The flavor enters in a linear fashion and then expands outwardly from the center of your palate, like a Supernova, to every corner. The enveloping flavors produce a longer finish and a more lingering flavor than you first expect. Its character is typical Carneros. You sense the cool breeze from the bay with every sip. It will pair with almost any food, from burgers to sashimi, from pasta to ribeye. And it’s great just by itself.

The wine is made cleanly, meaning that special protocols are followed that make the wine more focused, more true to its varietal source, its terroir, and is longer lived. Sulfite use is reduced and the production of histamines during the fermentation process is eliminated. The result is a better wine, one that is more truly Pinot Noir, and a wine that does not produce allergic reactions that can be caused by sulfites, and will not produce headaches or hangovers that may be caused by histamines and other biogenic amines.