Pinot Noir in the Sierra Nevada Foothills A Visit to Findleton Estate & Winery It's a brave new world in the Foothills of California with most viticulturists no longer content to grow the old standards like Zinfandel and Merlot.  Instead, there is a strong move amongst the most talented to find just the right grapes to match to their little piece of wine country.  The Sierra Nevada Foothills AVA is large and covers a great range of elevations and microclimates making it capable of growing an incredible selection of varietals.

 

The last several years have been exciting with many new Spanish and Italian style wines becoming more common place in tasting rooms around the region. But that hasn't been the end of it. There are a brave few trying grapes that to this point were considered incompatible with the warmer climate of the Foothills, but no more.

In recent years a few pioneers have begun experimenting with what most people would tell you may be the toughest grape of all to grow and produce wine from, Pinot Noir.  There have been some initial successes with this finicky varietal at a few of the larger wineries like Boeger, Stevenot, and Lava Cap; all of which have won awards utilizing Foothill Pinots in recent California wine competitions.  But several of the smaller wineries have entered the arena as well, and we found one in the little town of Camino that produces an estate bottled Pinot which appears to have a great deal of potential due to that all important combination of grapes, vintner and winemaker; Findleton Estate & Winery. Continued...