Met with a rare gem in the wine community today, Kathy Joseph from Fiddlehead Cellars. Kathy knew the Santa Rita Hills would be part of the Pinot revolution so she bought acres in this cool climate, planted, nurtured her grapes, and began selling them to winemakers. She still sells a bit of her fruit to other winemakers and makes her own wine with tremendous diversity and flavor.

It is amazing how the same Pinot Noir from the same climate and soil can taste so uniquely different but she’s got mad skills. The winemakers that adopt her grapes have their own uniqueness and spirit. The end result is a collection of wines amazingly different in style but all blanketed with the quintessential elegance and plumpness that come from her handiwork.

Not to get too spiritual, but I just found her spirit brightened mine. She doesn’t just light up when she talks about winemaking or growing grapes, but talking about food to wine pairings and cooking in general. She says she’s inherited her mother’s wonderful sense of smell and taste. The proof is not in reading about it but doesn’t this just make your mouth water: salmon with mango salsa, goat cheese pudding, and roasted duck breast with peppered plum sauce featuring Fiddlehead Pinot Noir. Check back when I’ll be testing out these recipes of hers once I get my hands on some Fiddlehead.

More from my appellation adventures in this region.