‘nada pinot noir
La Rinconada vineyard
Sta. Rita hills (2022)
Available September 2024
the winemaking
VOON ‘NADA Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir wine is liquid perfume.
This wine is a special exercise in showcasing the impact that minimal intervention can have, and is made from 100% free run juice from sustainably farmed grapes from a single vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, La Rinconada vineyard.
Free run means we did not press the grapes to extract any extra juice before fermenting, so there is no tannins or phenols added from the pressure on stems or seeds.
We fermented the free run juice with native yeasts, aged the wine in 100% neutral French Oak barrels for 18 months, and did no filtering or fining before bottling.
Please serve VOON’s ‘NADA Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir chilled slightly (58° F, or “cellar temperature”) in a stemmed wine glass with a large bowl for the optimal nose, taste, and overall enjoyment.
Available September 2024.
the vineyard
VOON’s 2022 ‘NADA Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir comes from La Rinconada Vineyard, a highly sought-after vineyard located in the heart of the prestigious Sta. Rita Hills AVA right off Santa Rosa Road that borders Sanford & Benedict. This incredibly hilly, north-facing vineyard is 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and is home to a plethora of microclimates and different soil types.
The sustainably-farmed grapes are planted on rolling hills, with a soil of clay loam mixed with diatomaceous earth and shale.
The Sta. Rita Hills AVA
The Sta. Rita Hills (pronounced “Santa Rita Hills”) is an incredible AVA right off the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara, California.
Very young by wine standards, the Sta Rita Hills were first planted ~50 years ago, and only became an official AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 2001. However, it is very quickly gaining international recognition as one of the most exciting wine AVAs in the United States, which is why we chose it for VOON.
The region is so unique because it is framed by two transverse (east to west) mountain ranges that end at the Pacific Ocean. Cold air blows directly off the ocean and is funneled inland between the two ranges, dramatically cooling what would otherwise be a very warm mediterranean climate. The Sta Rita Hills AVA is the closest that grapes will grow to the ocean.
The soil is also perfect for wine, and very unique. Called diotomaceous earth, the soil in the Sta Rita Hills AVA is a marine soil with very little nutrients for wines, and elevated calcium levels (not unlike the limestone soils of other famous wine regions).
The combination of the moderating influence of the ocean climate, the poor nutrition of the marine soils, and the warm California sun which extends the growing period are what make the Sta Rita Hills the perfect AVA for cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Introducing wine drinkers to lesser-known wine regions that are making world-class wines is one of the raisons d’être for VOON, and we’re very excited to share this Pinot Noir with you.