Beyond the Usual Bottles is our introductory series on the wine regions that do not get the airtime they deserve. Each class focuses on a single county or region, walks through the grapes and styles worth knowing, and covers what makes the place distinct.
No background required. Come curious.
Most people think of California wine as Napa Cabernet and the Sonoma Valley houses that surround it. The coast is another world. Fog rolls in most mornings, ripening slows to a crawl, and the wines end up leaner, brighter, and more nervy than anything grown a few miles inland.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir will be part of the conversation, but the real story is what else is going on out there. Cool-climate Syrah and Chenin Blanc from growers who have quietly been reshaping the map. Grüner Veltliner and Albariño finding homes along the fog line. Old-vine field blends being revived by a new generation. We over why the coast has become one of the most interesting place to watch in American wine.