Farm Cottage Trout Gulch Pinot Noir 2024

Winemaker Ryan Alfaro grew up on his parents' vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Being immersed in the family business his entire life, it was no surprise he developed a passion for wine.  While honing his skills at Alfaro Family Vineyards, Ryan decided to create his own label, Farm Cottage Wines. The 2019 vintage marked the inaugural year of Farm Cottage Wines. Planted in 1980, the 16 acre dry-farmed Trout Gulch vineyard sits at 750 feet above sea level and has well-draining sandy loam soil. The vineyard is planted to Mt Eden Pinot Noir. Its proximity to the sea (less than 4 miles inland) assures the grapes receive the cooling influence of the Monterey Bay. Trout Gulch Pinot Noir was fermented 100% whole cluster in an open top stainless steel tank. The tank was pitched with a natural pied de cuve on day 2. Gravity rack and returns were preformed twice a day to keep the clusters wet and fermentation temperatures cycling through the tank. The tank was pressed after 9 days and aged in neutral french oak.