California is a “vast patchwork of wine zones,” some still relatively new, said Ray Isle in Food & Wine. Among the best of the up-and-comers is the Petaluma Gap, a stretch of Sonoma where a “wind tunnel between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay” creates a cool climate ideal for pinot noirs, chardonnays, and syrahs.
2007 Keller Estate La Cruz Vineyard Pinot Noir ($44). Keller was the first winery in the region, and it now produces “top-quality” pinot noir grapes for bottlings “like this crisp, raspberry-inflected red.”
2008 Cline Cool Climate Syrah ($16). The Gap’s chilly winds result in a “taut, peppery” syrah.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2008 Gallo Family Vineyards Two Rock Chardonnay ($28). This wine is a “perfect example of the region’s potential for producing sleek, nuanced chardonnays.”
