Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

California is currently the most important wine producer outside Europe. This state, located on the West Coast of the USA (between the Pacific and the states of Arizona and Nevada), is similar to a large puzzle where the vineyards are classified in the American Viticultural Area (AVA). These small areas with very unique characteristics are the pieces that make up this region where humidity and the cold currents of the Pacific exert a decisive influence. 

They’re especially prevalent in the Santa Ynez Valley (northern Santa Barbara County) in the Santa Rita Hills AVA, the coldest on the West Coast. There, where Pinot Noir grows comfortably, Rajat Paar and Sahi Moorman are at the helm of SandhiCellars and they make Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir. 

In principle, Pinot Noir is the predominant variety in the area. It’s not difficult to find vines of this variety, but things change when it comes to quality. For this reason Rajat Paar and Sahi Moorman scour the county in search of the best vines of this variety. In the case of Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir the area chosen was two acres in the Domaine de la Côte (west of the appellation).

Once in the winery, the grapes for Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir are destemmed and fermented with native yeasts in concrete tanks without temperature control. Finally, the wine is aged for 12 months in neutral French oak barrels.