Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is thin-skinned and temperamental. It prefers to be in prime locations, near the coast but sheltered by walls of mountains. Plant it in the wrong place without supportive constituents, and the grape will refuse to cooperate. Its fickle nature means that it can turn on even the most accomplished winemaker if a growing season doesn’t meet the vine’s demands. But get the terroir right and Pinot Noir rewards you with light-bodied, intricate wine. And Monterey County has everything the grape requires. That’s why it polls so well here.