Cherry Pie Wines began with a vision of making Burgundian-style Pinot Noirs expressed by different iconic vineyards and AVAs throughout California. The vineyards are chosen specifically for their proximity to the ocean in places where the temperatures vary due to the fog and wind.
Cherry Pie Wines looks to places like the Carneros region in Napa/Sonoma, the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, the cool hills of Monterey, and the marine-influenced vineyards of Santa Barbara. Originally a vision from Jason Woodbridge, a renowned winemaker of Hundred Acre fame, who knew California had terroirs suitable to make Old World-style pinot noirs.
Cherry Pie Wines was named for the pies that his grandmother used to make and represent the deep cherry flavors that are often found in Pinot Noirs.
I had the chance to try several single vineyard wines and one blend side by side originating from different winemaking regions. The fruit was fermented in open oak casts and aged in French Oak, but it was fun to taste the differences in the terroir.
- 2021 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir, San Pablo Bay Block, Napa Valley, $58 – this wine was an expression of deep cherry, cedar, vanilla, pomegranate, and spice. Located in the Carneros AVA, it was a lush wine.
- 2021 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir, Huckleberry Snodgrass, Russian River, Sonoma County, $58 –
Very aromatic with notes of black cherry, rhubarb, boysenberry, plum, and cranberry. Very elegant and silky. - 2021 Cherry Pie Toro Hills, Los Carneros, Sonoma County, $55 – located in the Southwestern corner of the Donnell Ranch vineyard in Sonoma’s Carneros AVA, this was the first vintage of this wine. Notes of cherry cola, herbs, mocha, blackberry, and spice make this a well-balanced, nuanced wine.
The first three wines had fruit that was fermented in open oak casts and aged in French Oak, but it was fun to taste the differences in the terroir.
- 2021 Cherry Pie Tri-County, California – $19.99 – this a blend of the best lots of Pinot Noir grapes from three different AVAs in California: the Russian River Valley AVA, the Sonoma Coast AVA, and the Carneros AVA. I tasted lots of red fruit, black cherry, mocha, allspice, and earth.
After sampling the different wines, it is clear that Cherry Pie Wine Brings Old World style highlighting top California AVAs.
