Handley Cellars/Randy Shock/Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

I recently traveling into the Anderson Valley.I stayed at Handley Cellars.and sat down with winemaker Randy Shock.Randy is an amazing winemaker ,that combines his passion for the vineyards,with his ability to produce world class Pinot Noir.We have 4 Pinots on the table,and this is a prime example what the Anderson valley has to offer.Let's check out a little history and the tasting notes on these beautiful wines. Milla Handley Proprietor & Founding Winemaker Milla Handley Milla Handley has spent many years creating her unique wine brand, true to a place and to a set of values. After earning her Fermentation Science degree in 1975 at the University of California at Davis, Milla worked for winemakers Richard Arrowood at Chateau St. Jean and Jed Steele at Edmeades. In 1978 she headed to Anderson Valley, which was then largely uncharted viticultural territory, and established Handley Cellars in 1982. “I was captivated by the valley’s possibilities,” Milla says. “The people here possess an independent spirit, and I felt I could follow my own path, somewhat removed from the entrenched winemaking culture. I wanted my wines to capture the essence of this extraordinary place.” Thirty years later, Handley Cellars’ wines do just that. The Handley Cellars label reflects Milla’s love and respect for nature. Her parents were collectors of tribal art, and she was raised in a household surrounded by objects reflecting the beauty of the natural world. When working on the design for the Handley Cellars label, she was inspired by the ancient tribal textiles of the African Kuba tribes. The tasting room décor, too, reflects her love of tribal art. Milla’s commitment to responsible and organic farming began long before it was popular, and led her to obtain organic certification for the Handley Estate Vineyard in 2005. Every case the winery produces is crafted from grapes grown in the Handley family vineyards in Anderson Valley, or by trusted growers in Mendocino County appellations such as Anderson Valley, Mendocino Ridge, Potter Valley, and Redwood Valley. Randy has lived in Anderson Valley since 1998 with his wife Gina and their three sons, Paul, Owen, and Finn. His winemaking career began as assistant winemaker at Fieldstone in Alexander Valley. Before long, the opportunities and rural beauty of Anderson Valley led him to a harvest-time job with Navarro Vineyards and as winemaker at Philo Ridge Winery during its startup years. In 2004 Randy jumped at the opportunity to join Handley as our Cellar Master. In 2013 Randy was promoted to Co-Winemaker where he thrives on making balanced wines that showcase the local terroir. He is dedicated to his work and appreciates that his career is closely tied to agriculture and the natural cycles of the seasons. Pleasing Handley customers is one of Randy’s greatest motivations. At Handley Cellars, we firmly believe in a conscious and conscientious approach to farming and winemaking. We purchase grapes from small, local, family growers, and whenever possible, we select fruit that is farmed organically. Our winemaking philosophy is to let the distinctive qualities of each vineyard shine through. Working with carefully tended, exceptional sites, we strive to create wines which faithfully reflect the unique characteristics of the vineyards and viticultural region, focusing on our appellation of Anderson Valley. We select vineyards that fully ripen at lower brix, resulting in wines with low to moderate alcohol levels. Beginning with the 2012 vintage, our white wines are free of animal products. From start to finish, we are mindful of our impact on our rural valley, and the implications of our farming and wine making choices for future generations. It's time to introduce you to Mr.Randy Shock,and we will learn of 4 great Pinot Noirs from Handley Cellars. Cheers! Click here if you love Pinot Noir,please join us.