pinot noir
Sta. Rita hills (2021)
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.
the vineyard
Winding down Santa Rosa Road from Highway 1 will lead you to the one of the most exclusive vineyards in the Sta Rita Hills AVA, nestled on the western rolling hills. Unfortunately we’re not allowed to share the name of the vineyard at this time. Suffice to say, this is about as close to the Pacific Ocean as a vineyard can get.
Located 500 feet above sea level, the vineyard’s rolling hills are enveloped by fog rolling off the Pacific Ocean every morning. Strong winds and a cool climate — combined with non-nutritious soils composed of clay, shale, and diatomaceous earth — stress the vines as they grow.
“Stressing the grapes” helps concentrate acid, phenols, and flavor into the grapes that do grow on the low-yielding vines. This concentration of flavor creates stunningly balanced wines with a healthy dose of acid. This vineyard is farmed with organic practices.
the winemaking
At VOON, we believe that the varietal (in this case Pinot Noir) and the terroir should be the star. As a result, we intentionally take a minimal approach to winemaking.
In the case of our Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, we use native yeasts for fermentation, ferment roughly 25% of the grapes whole cluster (without removing the stems), and aged the wine in 100% neutral French Oak barrels for 18 months before bottling. There are no additives other than sulfur, which we use exceedingly sparingly — only once while the wine is in barrel and once during bottling.
Please serve VOON’s 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. A 30 minute decant will bring out the optimal aromas and flavors.