An exciting new project in Californian wine, Racines brings together the considerable talents of Burgundy royalty Étienne de Montille with Rodolphe Péters of Pierre Péters, one of Champagne’s finest growers.
Drawn by the cool climate and historic old-vine sites of Santa Barbara’s Sta. Rita Hills, the pair established Racines in 2016. With the help of local vigneron Justin Willett, they use a high-quality, organic approach to farm some of the region’s most esteemed sites, including Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada, and Bentrock vineyards.
Fermented with native yeasts, Racines’ Pinot Noirs offer heady, whole-bunch perfumes and supple textures from spending 18 months in Burgundian oak. The result combines rich layers of red and black cherry and exotic spices, as well as a structure for extended ageing.
In the two decades since the film ‘Sideways’ catapulted Californian Pinot Noir to fame, the Sta. Rita Hills have emerged as an affordable alternative to top red Burgundy.
