World of Pinot Noir has seminars and events throughout the weekend that are an incredible way to learn and taste through an incredible selection of Pinot Noir hosted by Wine Enthusiast.

I attended the seminar What’s altitude got to do with it on Friday morning and it was a great way to start the weekend tasting through five Pinot Noir producers from Canada, Chile, Argentina, France and California.

The seminar started with an introduction by Michael Schachner from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Each producer talked through their geology and climate in order to allow us to better understand the different styles of Pinot Noir we were tasting. We started with the Domaine Kirrenbourg 2017 Terroir B. Alsace is blocked by the Vosges mountains allowing for excellent wines to come from this Northerly region. There is no irrigation used and the grapes come from old vines.

We then moved on to British Columbia and tasted Mission Hills 2017 Prospectus that uses stems in the winemaking process. We then went on to Chile and enjoyed Cono Sur 2017 20 Barrels that is made without stems and and aged in French oak. We then got to enjoyed Domaine Nico 2017 Histoire A. This Pinot Noir spends 18 months in French oak and stems are used in the winemaking process. Domaine Nico comes from Laura Catena, MD the owner of Catena wines. We then enjoyed a California Sonoma Coast 2017 Pinot from Sangiacomo Family Vineyards which comes form the Petaluma Gap where there is diverse soils.

We then went on to the second flight starting with Domaine Kirrenbourg Premier 2017 which comes from a high altitude and it is a strong and powerful Pinot. The Mission Hill Martin’s Lane Naramata Ranch 2015 and was the second vintage. We then moved on to Cono Sur Ocio 2016 where the grapes undergo carbonic maceration. Next, we had Domaine Nico Le Paradis 2016 where the head wine maker is a young 32 year old. There is one hectare of vines that produce this aromatic style. The final wine was an amazing Sangiacomo Family Vineyards Roberts Road Vineyard 2017 that was a pale ruby with notes of ripe cherry, clove, strawberry and cedar. After this incredible tasting we got to enjoy a three course lunch with the winemakers. This intimate setting was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. During the lunch we got to try a sparkling rosé from Cono Sur - it was my first time having a Chilean sparkling wine! I am already dreaming of next year’s World of Pinot Noir.