Sonoma-Cutrer® Pinot Noirs Shine in Top California Wine Competitions

WINDSOR, Calif., Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonoma-Cutrer, most distinguished for producing world-class, award-winning Chardonnay has received top awards for its Pinot Noir wines. The 2012 Founders Reserve Pinot Noir took home the highest honor at the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition with the Sweepstakes Red award, while its flagship 2013 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir won the Platinum award in the 2015 San Diego International Wine Competition.

When Sonoma-Cutrer began crafting Pinot Noir in 2002, it was a natural extension from Chardonnay for a winery focused on the winemaking traditions of Burgundy, France. Today, Sonoma-Cutrer produces four distinctive Pinot Noir wines. Sonoma-Cutrer's separate, artisan Pinot Noir winery takes many special steps to craft its Pinot Noir from early morning hand harvesting and hand sorting to a hand punch-down in open top fermenters. The same care and respect is used to craft Pinot Noir just as with Chardonnay.

"Sonoma-Cutrer has always been recognized as a world-class producer of Chardonnay with a Pinot Noir program that has been our best kept secret for years," said winemaking director Mick Schroeter. "To receive honors and recognition for our Pinot Noirs from some of the most prestigious and highly competitive competitions in the United States has the entire Sonoma-Cutrer team over the moon with excitement."

The care for these Pinot Noir wines is evident through the prestigious awards the winery has recently received, including the Sweepstakes Red award for the 2012 Founders Reserve and Double Gold for the 2012 Vine Hill Pinot Noir at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The competition, which received more than 6,300 wine entries, is known as the largest competition of American wines in the world. Of all these wines, only eight Sweepstakes awards are given in the categories of Sparkling, White, Pink, Red, and Dessert/Specialty wines.

"Sonoma-Cutrer's Founders Reserve Pinot Noir was deemed the best of more than 4,000 red wines entered into the 2015 competition," said San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition director Bob Fraser. "Mick Schroeter and his staff should be complimented for their excellence in viticulture and winemaking."

The most highly acclaimed and requested Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir, the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir recently received the Platinum award and a 95 point rating for the 2013 vintage at the highly-esteemed San Diego International Wine Competition.

"Sonoma-Cutrer has long been a benchmark producer of California Chardonnay. Situated in the cool Russian River Valley it makes Chardonnay that possesses structure and elegance, giving it the ability to improve with age," said San Diego International Wine Competition director Robert Whitley. "Because of the success of its Chardonnay, the Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir is one of the best-kept secrets in the world of wine."

All award-winning wines can be purchased at the Sonoma-Cutrer winery as well as through the wine club, Club Cutrer. Additionally, the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is available nationwide in stores and at restaurants. For more information about our wines, how to purchase or to join Club Cutrer please visit www.sonomacutrer.com or visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonomacutrervineyards.

Sonoma-Cutrer is one of the fine wines produced and marketed by the Brown-Forman Corporation. For more than 141 years, Brown-Forman has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands.  The company's brands are supported by nearly 4,000 employees and sold in approximately 160 countries worldwide.  For more information about the company, visit www.brown-forman.com. Please enjoy our wines responsibly.

© 2015 Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, Windsor, Sonoma County, California

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