Winemaker Peter Cargasacchi gives VINO LAS VEGAS an education on the formation of the Sta Rita Hills and its wine growing qualities

Peter Cargasacchi 's family has been in California for 5 generations.
His great great grandfather came from Italy to California. VINO LAS VEGAS visited Peter at his winery and got quite an education on the Sta Rita Hills appellation.

We have spoken to many winemakers and many consider Peter an "expert" on the special aspects of the Sta Rita Hills that can be found nowhere else in California. We learned the Sta.Rita Hills appellation and the region to its west represent an extreme area for wine growing - a typical day starts with a marine layer of fog that burns off around 10am; then as things warm up, a wind from the Ocean picks up, bringing cooler temperatures, and eventually that marine fog again. These weather patterns produce a very long grape-growing season, producing very well developed flavors and tannins in the resulting wines.

The area is also the bed of an ancient sea, so there are large deposits of diatomaceous earth in and around the vineyards. This limestone produces a discernable edge and minerality in the wines.

Peter spoke to Scott of VINO LAS VEGAS in depth about Pinot Noir from the Sta Rita Hills and what gives it its " special " qualities. The 2006 and 2007 Cargasacchi Pinot Noir was some of the best we have sampled. They were very true to what we would expect from a Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir with Peter's own special touch. The Cargasascchi wines have a smaller production but well worth looking for them.

In addition to his Cargasacchi Pinot Noirs he also produces his Point Concepcion label where Peter really shows off his winemakeing art form. The Point Concepcion "Celestina" is a red Pinot Grigio that was a real treat.

The Cargasacchi wines have many old world notes that can most likely be resulting from Peter's long family background in Italy.

We have always said that drinking wine is an education and when you travel to the vineyard and meet an expert in his appellation such as Peter it can only benefit our own knowledge and enjoy the wines more.

For more information please go to http://www.cargasacchi.com or their blog at http://cargasacchi.com/blog/