In Pictures: Organic Vintners at Pinot Days SF

From last week's Pinot Days held at Fort Mason, here are some of the prestigious organic vintners who exhibited at the event and have at least one organically grown Pinot Noir. All of these wines are rated 90 points plus by major wine periodicals (Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, etc.)

Together the organic vintners exhibiting here cover a nice cross-section of California. From south to north, they are:

Santa Barbara County:

• Alma Rosa (La Encantada and El Jabali vineyards)

• Tyler Winery (La Encantada) (no photo)

Monterey County:
• Morgan (Double L vineyard only)

Napa/Carneros:
• ZD Wines (Both estate wines)

Sonoma:
• Benziger (Several)
• DeLoach (Estate only)

Mendocino/Anderson Valley:

• Handley Cellars (Estate only) (no photo)

Pinot Days was last Sunday at Fort Mason

More than 140 exhibitors turned out 

The SF Pinot Days is the original home of the event
which now travels to other cities

Morgan's Double L Ranch - where this Pinot comes from - is one of the few
certified organic vineyards in Monterey County

Napa's ZD Wines has two organically grown Pinots
from its Carneros vineyards - below is the regular Pinot ($48):

And this is the ZD Wines Reserve Pinot Noir ($68)

Alma Rosa's Richard Sanford was there in person
pouring - a real treat since he is the man
who put the Santa Rita Hills on the map as a
winegrowing region. He was elected to the
Vintners Hall of Fame in 2012 for his extensive
contributions to the industry. The Sanford's
have been organic for decades and are well known
for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Alma Rosa was the only vintner to display
their CCOF sign - thank you for putting it out there!
I wish all the other certified vineyards/vintners would follow suit -
it makes it easier for those of us who want to find these
 wines to know who you are.

In contrast, JCB Wines, part of the Boisset label, is NOT
organically or biodynamically grown but puts out
their booklet on Biodynamics (some of Boisset's other properties are BD).
However, their sister label, Napa-based Raymond was just certified last month,
so we can look forward to seeing more Demeter-certified
biodynamically grown wines from them soon.

Kudos also to Benziger for bottle labeling their Pinots
on the back...their de Coelo Quintus ($75) is made from
Demeter-certified biodynamic grapes 

Their Signaterra Bella Luna and San Remo Pinots ($50 each) are
also Demeter-certified biodynamically grown

DeLoach's Estate Pinot ($50) is also made from Demeter-
certified biodynamic grapes