Kochana Chouette Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2022

Anie Peszynski-Jones, owner and winemaker of Kochana, founded her brand as a tribute to the generations of family that came before her and paved the way for her to pursue her passion. On her father’s side, she is the granddaughter of Polish immigrants who escaped Poland during World War II to give their children a fighting chance. On her mother’s side, she is the granddaughter of Sacramento natives who were high school sweethearts who pinched pennies to raise their three children in a comfortable, loving home. Both branches of Anie’s family tree instilled in her an appreciation for hard work, dedication to success, and the support of their unending love. These three virtues are the driving force and guiding light for Anie as she crafts wines from her favorite varietal, Pinot Noir, under her label Kochana (dearest in Polish).

Anie’s fascination with Pinot Noir started in 2012 at Skinner Vineyards during her first harvest internship, where she witnessed the particular nature of the varietal and found herself intrigued to take on the challenge of working with the thin-skinned grape. This pursuit took her to Napa Valley, then across the globe to New Zealand, and back to California with Flowers Winery to understand the intricacies of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. And while Anie’s name may be new to you, there is a good chance you’ve tasted wines she’s had a hand in making. She has been part of the production team at Mending Wall Winery since 2017, where she works alongside proprietor and legendary Napa Valley winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. She’s climbed the ladder working as Cellarmaster, Assistant Winemaker, and eventually Head Winemaker. Apprenticing with Thomas has allowed Anie to master everything there is to know about Cabernet Sauvignon and afforded her the flexibility to create wines of her own from Pinot Noir since the two varietals follow different growing and harvest timelines.

Chouette, French for “female owl”, is a nod to the predatory bird that is an integral part of the organically farmed, 4-acre vineyard where Anie sourced the fruit for her second vineyard-designate Pinot Noir. Chouette Vineyard, located two miles from the town of Occidental in Sonoma, is surrounded by redwood forest, organic vegetable farms, and fruit orchards. The significant marine influence from the nearby Pacific Ocean results in expressive, bright, and elegant wines. The 20-plus-year-old vines, a mix of Calera and Clone 115, are planted in sandy, clay soils that lend a distinct minerality to the wine.

French speakers also use “chouette” as slang to describe something they like or think is cool, which Anie believes aptly defines this debut Pinot Noir. She notes the wine exudes “a striking mineral profile and has notes of light clove, sage and rose petal. The elegant texture upon first sip expresses notes of darker fruits, bramble, and tart blackberry compote.” Anie continues to honor her heritage by sharing cherished family recipes for traditional Polish dishes with those who enjoy her wines. Her Babcia’s (grandmother) Polish Borscht is a sure-fire hit pairing with the 2022 Chouette Pinot Noir and perfect for the cooler Fall weather.