Five Gems to Uncork on National Pinot Noir Day 2022

National Pinot Noir Day 2022 falls on August 18th. How will you be celebrating?

The joy of pinot noir is that this varietal is endlessly diverse, from fruit forward new world style wines to savory, umami rich Burgundian pours. 

Pinot noir grown in very cool sites may showcase mouthwatering, juicy acidity while pinot harvested from warmer climes can be full-bodied and rich. 

Whether you crave luscious raspberry cordial notes, hints of maraschino cherry, spicy cloves and cardamom, or damp forest floor, pinot noir offers a dazzling spectrum of aromatics and flavors. 

How to Enjoy Pinot Noir

The best way to explore the breadth of pinot noir is to buy, uncork, and taste bottlings from different regions and different producers. 

For example, pinot noir grown in Beaune, France tastes different than pinot noir grown in the Willamette Valley, Oregon or in Sonoma County, California. Wind, sunshine, soil, climate, diurnal temperature changes, and heat summation affect grape flavor profoundly. 

Wine grapes taste like where they’re grown. This is especially true for pinot noir (yes, I’m biased). Whether your favorite pinot noir is loaded with raspberry or redolent of earthy mushrooms or laced with clove and star anise, each bottle will be delicious and unique. 

Some pinot noirs are lightly hued and kissed with color while others are more deeply extracted shades of garnet. Pinot noir is generally lighter bodied with higher acid than Bordeaux varietals like merlot or cabernet. 

Pinot sits squarely in the red fruit spectrum but can showcase plum, blackberries, and black cherry. The varietal character is a complex marriage of aromatics, flavor, body, wine matrix, tannin profiles, acidity, and a certain “X” factor we call “terroir.” Pinot noir is versatile and will pair well with many foods. 

There is no single rule that pairs pinot noir with the right food, since so many variations on this grape exist worldwide. 

Cook, uncork, taste and experiment. 

I hope you’ll celebrate National Pinot Noir day by seeking out small production pinots crafted by boutique and family-owned wineries. Small production wines tend to have the most soul, personality, and depth. 

To help you navigate the pinot noir market, here are five terrific options to uncork and enjoy on National Pinot Noir Day. Furthermore, each of these wines is crafted by a female winemaker, doubling your reason to celebrate. 

Pinot Noir Gem #1: Gust

Megan and Hilary Cline craft nuanced, site-specific pinot noir from the Petaluma Gap AVA. I’ve selected their pinot noir for National Pinot Noir Day since it showcases terrior so beautifully.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Petaluma Gap region of Sonoma County, commit to memory this single fact: it’s all about the wind. “Gusts” of maritime wind (get it?) blow off the Pacific Ocean and alter wine grape physiology. 

Wine grapes grown in the Petaluma Gap have thicker skins leading to richer color, deeper flavors, and enviable texture. The wind also maintains acidity, so pinot noir grown here is lively, juicy, and food friendly. 

This wine is a classic for Petaluma Gap, and you’ll enjoy every sip.

Pinot Noir Gem #2: Inman

Kathleen Inman is pioneer in Sonoma County pinot noir. She has been crafting wine from her Russian River Valley estate property for over 20 years. 

She is a queen of pinot noir and chardonnay, a one woman show, from viticulture to winemaking. Can you tell I am a superfan? I’ve selected her wine for National Pinot Noir Day to add some bubbles to the lineup.  Her stellar brut rose is the palest pink and vinified from 100% pinot noir grapes. 

Nothing kicks off a celebration like bubbles, so go ahead and uncork Kathleen’s brut pinot noir to mark National Pinot Noir Day.

Pinot Noir Gem #3: Meyer Family Cellars

Karen Meyer studied winemaking at uni in Australia, interned in New Zealand, France, Oregon, and Napa, and crafts legendary cabernet sauvignon from Oakville, Napa. 

So why did she make the cut for National Pinot Noir Day? Because deep down beneath that Aussie accent, she is a Burgundy fan at heart. She has an Old-World palate and winemaking sensibility that she brings to bear in her Monument Tree Vineyard pinot from the Anderson Valley AVA in Mendocino, CA. 

Although I am biased in favor of Sonoma County, my home turf, I love me a juicy Anderson Valley pinot noir. Perfumed and elegant, this pinot showcases the personality of Anderson Valley, Mendocino perfectly.

Pinot Noir Gem #4: Trombetta

Erica Stancliff plays with the best fruit in Sonoma County, crafting pinot with style and elegance to great critical acclaim. 

The Gap’s Crown Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA is among the most famous wine grape sites in all of Sonoma County. In fact, this special vineyard is renowned throughout California, the pinot coveted and hoarded by collectors and connoisseurs. 

I’ve selected Trombetta Family Wines for National Pinot Noir Day since Erica has a legacy with this terrific vineyard. If you’re lucky, you can taste her wines from this fantastic vineyard across multiple vintages, a treat indeed. You’re welcome.

Pinot Noir Gem #5: Bruliam Wines

Full disclosure: I voted for myself for 3rd grade class President, and I’ll nominate myself again here.

I make four different and unique single vineyard pinot noirs, offering you many choices for National Pinot Noir Day. But in this post, I’ll specifically hype my Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.

First of all, this specific pinot garners loads of great press, seen here & here & here. Forbes fandom notwithstanding, I’ll plant my flag in the Santa Lucia Highlands because I am a Sonoma pinot girl who chooses to source these Monterey County wine grapes.

Like the Petaluma Gap, the wine grapes of SLH are informed by a rip-roaring afternoon wind that thickens skins, maintains crisp acidity, and mitigates Botrytis pressure (a fancy way for saying “drying winds prevent rot”).

But more importantly, these aggressive winds blow the hat off your head, render outdoor BBQ’s uninhabitable, and HALT photosynthesis. Yup, winds are so aggressive that the grapes close their sugar shop.

The resulting wine grapes hang on the vines a long time, accumulating sugar and flavor slowly and completely. The resultant pinot is richly expressive of site, with layers of complex aromatics including brambly blackberries, exotic spices, and gentle earthy undertones.

This pinot is the sexy choice for National Pinot Noir Day.

One More Thing…

If you’re looking to expand your palate on National Pinot Noir Day, we just reviewed five delectable choices that showcase the breadth, complexity, and variety of my most favorite wine grape.

Still want to give our Bruliam Wines Pinot Noir a try in time for National Wine Day? Check out our classic bundle, available for a limited time…