Pinot Noir is easily the one wine variety I can enjoy daily with a light to medium body and layers of red, purple, and blue fruit notes. Lucky for us, today we celebrate this delicate beauty as it is International Pinot Noir Day!

Since their beginning, I have been a fan of the wines of Siduri, and they continue to deliver. From the regional expressions to their smaller production single vineyard selections, the wines are authentic, displaying the elegance of the fruit and the AVA’s terroir.

Comparing the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($35) to the Santa Barbara Pinot Noir ($30) is a beautiful case in point.

The cool climate Santa Barbara Pinot Noir, using fruit primarily grown in the prestigious Sta. Rita Hills shows loads of black fig, plum, and blackberry with toasted brown spice and woody herb. The Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, from fruit grown primarily in the Yamhill-Carlton region of Willamette, shows more red fruits, like wild berry and cherry, with earthy dried leaves and mushrooms. Both are delicious, but each showcases the regional characteristics that make winemaking so exciting.

Named after 5th generation winegrower Aly Wente, Wente Aly’s Pinot Noir ($50) showcases Monterey’s Arroyo Seco region, the ideal place for growing cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. The wine is aromatic, juicy, and ripe from certified sustainable estate fruit grown within the region. The open shines with wild strawberry, and candied red apple notes, melding with violets and tea rose floral aromas. There is a subtle spiciness and soft, delicate finish, enhanced by 16 months of French oak aging, imparting a touch of nutmeg and allspice while balancing the tannins.

Highly influenced by the cooling breezes off the Pacific Ocean, Lake Sonoma Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($38) is rich, balanced, and nicely structured for being a young wine. Aged only seven months in a combination of new and neutral French oak, and stainless steel, creating a well-rounded, expressive palate filled with luscious black fruit notes. Soft herbs linger on the palate after enjoying the first taste, melding with black and blueberry, crushed pomegranate, and tart cranberry.

A perfect Tuesday, or Thursday, night wine, J Lohr Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir ($17) is juicy, lively and easygoing with luscious approachability. Bright red berries and cherry meld with a hint of toasted clove, cinnamon, and wild herb. Aged primarily in stainless steel for only eight months, the wine is intentionally fresh and aromatic, allowing the beauty of the juicy to shine with a refreshing fruity palate.