Welcome to our newest series, The Somm Set. Each month we’ll be sitting down with a guest sommelier and uncovering their guilty pleasures, cellar staples, and everything in between! Follow as they hand-select their favorites from our warehouse, giving you the inside scoop on cellar must-haves!

This month on The Somm Set, we’re excited to feature Tonya Pitts, Sommelier. Join us as we explore everything from her love of Champagne and her passion for the wine industry.

Old & New World Loves
Mature Wines
Tonya's Secret Stash
Read Our Interview With Tonya Pitts
The Somm Set Home
 

This week from Tonya Pitts:

This is the finale for Tonya's Secret Stash in Benchmark Wine Group's "Raid the Cellar." I decided to wrap up this segment with Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Oregon Pinot Noir, White Burgundy, and Red Burgundy. There has long been a warm, soft spot in my heart and palate for these wines. I have been told by quite a few people; it is sometimes difficult to navigate in this ethereal realm. The flavor profile is highly influenced by the terroir, growing region, and the outcome of the year's weather. The Sonoma Coast has the influence of the Pacific Ocean and the constant Marine layer throughout the region in Northern California. The Willamette Valley in Oregon has long been revered for producing Old World influenced wines. I dare say Burgundy is one of the most difficult. The plant material, Pinot Noir, is a thin-skinned grape, quite delicate, and it must be handled with extreme care in the vineyard. This wine-growing region is comprised of a world of tasty regional wines, designated Villages, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru villages, which produce fantastic fruit with a dizzying array of price points. The art of growing and producing grapes is quite difficult and challenging work no matter where it is grown. I would like to complete this wonderful journey with some of my favorites from my secret stash. Don't worry about waiting to cellar and age these wines, Benchmark Wine Group has done the cellaring for you. So, happy hunting, drink, and enjoy.

Check out all the wines mentioned below!