Michael Accurso, winemaker, EnRoute
image courtesy of EnRoute
During my recent Instagram Live chat with EnRoute winemaker Michael Accurso, I discovered that his passion for Pinot Noir is only rivaled by his great sense of humor and love of cooking. That certainly makes sense: if he hadn't become a winemaker, Michael considered careers as a professional chef or comedian! But don't let his easygoing nature fool you; Michael is a precise and serious winemaker.
Founded in 2007 by the partners of Far Niente winery in Napa Valley, EnRoute is committed to crafting wines that express the essence of Pinot Noir from Sonoma's Russian River Valley. Michael describes the diverse terroir of EnRoute's vineyards as a spice rack because of the different elevations, range of soil types, and various clones. Michael draws from this spice rack of flavors to make EnRoute's unique expressions of single-vineyard Pinot Noir wines and the Les Pommiers blend.
Click the video above, or watch on IGTV or YouTube, to learn more about EnRoute, what makes the Russian River Valley so special, and Michael's favorite food pairings with EnRoute Pinot Noir -- he really loves duck and wild mushrooms!
During our chat, we sipped EnRoute “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir 2018, Russian River Valley ($60), and EnRoute “Northern Spy Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley ($85). Les Pommiers blends Pinot Noir grapes primarily from EnRoute's vineyards in the Green Valley and upper Middle Reach areas of the Russian River Valley AVA. Fresh and vibrant with pristine red fruit flavors and hints of earth, Michael describes Les Pommiers as the quintessential Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Northern Spy Vineyard is crafted 100% from Pinot Noir grapes grown from a single-vineyard in the Green River Valley. Richer and more intense, its plush red fruit flavors are accented by hints of spice and forest floor. Both wines are beautifully balanced and full of life.
