Amuse Bouche Blog

At Fotinos Brothers Winery we have been growing and producing Pinot Noir for more than 35 years and have really good insight into the varietal. Pinot Noir is very fragile and can be inconsistent and unpredictable form the time the buds break on the vine, to storing a bottle in your cellar. Throughout the winter months the vines lie dormant. In early Spring the buds, which eventually become grapes, begin to bloom. During this time they are very susceptible to abrupt temperature changes. Hard rain or frost can potentially ruin a crop. A vineyard manager can combat this cold weather by running warm air, via large fans,through the vineyard to warm the plants. The buds mature from Spring into Summer. During this growth phase Pinot Noir grapes are very susceptible to excessive heat, or mildew from a light Summer rain. One of the reasons for Pinot Noir's susceptiblity is that it's very thin skinned compared to other varietals, like Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruits fragility can be a problem during harvest also, if it is not handled gently. Once harvested, fermented and placed in French oak barrels for aging, Pinot Noir is a very unstable wine and has to be handled very carefully. At Fotinos Brothers Winery we bottle age our Pinot Noir for a minimum of one year to insure the wine is stable and ready to drink before its release. Because Pinot Noir is still susceptible to temperature changes once bottled, we only ship during the Spring and Fall seasons to avoid severe changes in temperature. Once you receive your wine, store it in a wine refrigerator or a cool dark place. Now you can enjoy a fantastic bottle of Fotinos Brothers Pinot Noir. Salute'.

Pinot Noir is known as the ultimate food wine. It can be paired with just about any dish.The main reason is because it's modest tannins give it great flexibility with food. A Cabernet Sauvignon is highly tannic and limited to it's food pairing choices. This is when the hard work in producing this wine pays off. If you are ever in doubt of which wine to choose with a meal, Pinot Noir is always a safe choice. Preferably a Fotinos Brothers Pinot Noir. Let's talk about aroma and taste. Pinot Noir should be served around 62 degrees Fahrenheit. It can have the flavor and aroma's of cherries, plums, raspberry,herbs, spice, chocolate and mushrooms. It can also have a nuance of smoke or bacon. Salute'

A wonderful thing about Pinot Noir is that it has the capacity to reflect the terroir of where it's grown. The French word terroir basically translates into the character of the wine. Each vintage reflects the vineyard location and weather pattern of that year. At Fotinos Brothers Winery we have one of the best vineyard locations in the Carneros wine appellation and in turn produce world class wines like our 2006 single vineyard Pinot Noir. So, the terroir or character of the wine is a product of the vineyards location, soils and microclimate for that growing season.

From the Greek term, oenos meaning wine, oenology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and wine making from the grape harvest to the bottle. An oenophile is a lover of wine, also known as wine aficionados or connoisseurs. These are people who appreciate or collect wine, particularly wines from certain regions and varietal types. At Fotinos Brothers Winery we feel that the more you know about wine, the more you will appreciate and enjoy it. Enjoying the fruits of our labors is what it's all about. Try our 2006 Carneros Pinot Noir and feel the passion of being an oenophile. Salute'