Almost by coincidence, the former Dutch racing driver Ben Pon (you know from the Pon family which is an importer of VW, Audi and Porsche, among others) in 1989 acquired a piece of land on the Californian slopes behind Carmel Valley Village. Here he started his Bernardus Winery with the aim of producing wines that rival the largest Bordeaux and Grand Cru's.

The vineyards in the Carmel Valley have been carefully planted with various grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc. While the Bordeaux style varieties grow in the Carmel Valley vineyards, the Chardonnay is cultivated in cool maritime climates, namely in the Monterey Bay. Grapes from other California appellations are used to add nuances to the Bernardus blends.

The Pinot Noir grapes from the Bernardus is also a wine where the pinot noir grapes come from 1 vineyard and is therefore a so-called 'single vineyard' wine. The vineyard is the Rosella's vineyard from the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. This area is famous and undisputedly the best place in Napa Valley for Pinot noir grapes. We only work with the best of the best, from vines to care and from special yeast cultures to education. After vinification, the wine is aged in French oak for 10 months.

In the glass, the Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir shows a medium ruby-purple color. In the nose the typical intense pinot noir scents such as fresh red fruit, black cherry, vanilla and a little earthy. The wine has a full flavor with hints of red fruit and black tannins. A good combination of red meat, game, pasta dishes, cheeses and pâté.