Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
El Pino Club is for Pinot fanatics: people who love this fickle, funky grape that defies expectations and always surprises. The curated collection of exceptional wines in El Pino Club hail from the coastal corners of the world where the grape thrives, allowing Pinot lovers to see the world through the eyes of this wonderful little grape. To fully appreciate the range of Pinot Noir requires a journey, and the charismatic Pinot Noirs that make up El Pino Club are ready and willing guides through the world’s most acclaimed AVAs. To capture the fullest expression of terroir, each wine is entrusted to a winemaker expert in the nuances of their region’s Pinot Noir. The winemakers in ‘the Club’ are given creative license to artfully blend clones selected from their best estate vineyard blocks. Their passion and individual winemaking styles result in site-specific wines that showcase the best of their region’s Pinot Noir.
Every wine in El Pino Club is a unique and lovably- quirky character, bursting with personality, and undeniably true to itself. As individual cast members they are an ode to the lands and hands that produce them, and as an ensemble, they celebrate the full range and charm of this legendary varietal.
Anderson Valley, located in Mendocino County just above Sonoma County, is one of California’s coolest AVAs, allowing it a long growing season. Only 15 miles long, the region makes a slice eastward through the mountains, from the frigid Pacific Ocean. Dramatic diurnal temperature variations here preserve grape acidity and thus freshness in the finished wines. These are prime conditions for growing Pinot Noir, and the valley produces many fine versions. Characteristics of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir typically include crisp acidity, cranberry and strawberry notes as well as earthy notes of forest floor and mushroom.
Still Pinot Noir, however, is only part of the story. Pinot Noir, along with Chardonnay, are also grown for Anderson Valley’s exceptional sparkling wines. Produced via the traditional method, these offer a classic toasty note from lees aging, bright, complex fruit notes and a clean, refreshing character.