Etude

Etude was founded on the philosophy that winemaking begins in the vineyard long before the harvest and that superior grape growing diminishes the need for intervention by the winemaker, resulting in wine that is grown, not made. This remains their approach today as they continue to build the Etude legacy. Etude was established 1982, when founding winemaker Tony Soter set his sights on the cool-climate Carneros region in the pursuit of producing world-class Pinot Noir. As a winemaker, Tony always had a fascination with Pinot Noir. He was quoted as saying "Pinot Noir is the most appropriate vehicle with which to study wine growing, precisely because of its demanding nature but also because of its delicacy and transparency. Make no mistake it is a humbling pursuit, but when it’s right, Pinot Noir is a glorious and moving thing. It is in the pursuit of that experience that we all work.” In 2000, Grace Benoist Ranch was developed – the culmination of an eighteen-year journey in finding the most suitable terroir for their Estate vineyards. On the ranch are seven Chardonnay clones, nine Heirloom Pinot Noir clones, and eight additional Pinot clones, all divided into 24 individual vineyard blocks, each with its own soil type, rootstock, grape variety and clonal type. These individual vineyard blocks average only 8 acres in size. The spacing is dense to ensure low per vine yields of fully concentrated fruit. Pinot Noir offers intricate flavor profiles, many of which are unique to its growing region. Beyond Carneros, Etude sources fruit from the Central Coast region of California, Oregon, and even New Zealand. This diversity offers their guests the opportunity to see the world though the lens of Pinot Noir. The flavors, aromas, and textures are a direct impact of the teroirs on which the grapes are grown. At Etude, they believe wines are expressive of the place in which they are grown. With this belief comes a commitment to a holistic wine-growing approach -- nurturing the soil, respecting the native ecosystems, and always working to reduce the environmental impact. They are mindful of their role as stewards of the land and adhere strictly to sustainable agriculture practices that enable them to farm in concert with the surrounding environment.