Fotinos Vineyard, Napa Valley
Napa Valley is synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and their neighbor to the west, Sonoma County has typically been identified with Pinot Noir.
The Pinot Noir grape, sometimes referred to as the “heartbreak grape,” is notoriously finicky and demanding, requiring constant care and attention, a climate that is not too hot or cold, and just the right combination of soil, irrigation, rootstocks, and more. If anything is out of balance, the vine won’t yield or produce anything that taste good.
As a result, many Napa Valley wineries have focused on producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, varietals that tend to overshadow the nuanced and complex Pinot Noir.
When you have the opportunity to enjoy a terrific Napa Valley Pinot Noir, that has experienced consistent success for over 50 years, you have to take that opportunity.
The Fotinos Vineyard in Napa Valley
If we were to ask you to explain the Carneros in Napa Valley in one word to some who has never heard of the area, our guess is that your word would be “wine”.
If we were to ask you that same question 50 years ago, you would probably say “sheep” or “cattle” or “farming.”
Historically, the Carneros region was the ideal land for raising sheep, dairy cattle, and fruit trees. The planting of vineyards in the area is said to have originated in the late 1830s, although by the late 1880s, the spread of a grapevine insect (Phylloxera) and prohibition in the early 1900s wiped out the wine industry in the region.
In 1969, brothers George and Tom Fotinos purchased a 27-acre prune orchard in the heart of Carneros. The brothers, first-generation Greek immigrants, learned the art of wine growing and winemaking from their father. With a passion for working in the vineyard and utilizing the winemaking knowledge passed down to them, George and Tom slowly began to develop the original orchard into a Pinot Noir vineyard.
Image Courtesy of Elaine Fotinos Burrell
Elaine Fotinos Burrell, the daughter of George and a Point Loma resident, recalls working with her sisters alongside their father and mother, Vivian, in the vineyard. Much like their grandfather, George and Vivian passed down to their daughters a love for farming the land and cultivating fine Pinot Noir grapes.
Image Courtesy of Elaine Fotinos Burrell
Today, the Fotinos sisters and their husbands continue the family tradition of producing world-class Pinot Noir grapes. In addition to selling the fruit to Mumm Napa to make sparkling wine, the family produces about 150 cases annually of boutique award-winning Pinot Noir under their family name.
Image Courtesy of Elaine Fotinos Burrell
The 2018 Pinot Noir presents as a light ruby color, and we experienced a charming nose of strawberries, raspberries and vanilla. On the palate, it’s very well balanced with a light, silky texture and flavors of cherries, cranberries, and strawberries. You could pair this well-balanced Pinot Noir with a wide variety of foods, like a mushroom risotto, tuna poke, salmon, roasted chicken, Basque sheep’s milk cheese, and pasta dishes.
What’s unique about this wine is that you have access to a Napa Valley grower right here in San Diego, and the ability to acquire a bottle (or two) of this unique and exclusive wine.
You can purchase the 50th Anniversary Vintage of Fotinos Vineyard Pinot Noir at The Wine Pub or contact Elaine for hand-delivery to your door in Point Loma. Contact Elaine via email at elaine@fotinos.com or purchasing a bottle on their website. Sign up for their newsletter at www.fotinos.com to receive updates on their wine, wine parties and special events that are held in Point Loma.
