Vin Copain Winery

Copain Winery is a producer in California, making wines from Pinot Noir and Syrah in a more restrained and balanced style than the typical California red wine. Owner and winemaker Wells Guthrie fell in love with wines from the Rhône while working in Wine Spectator's San Francisco office, and moved to the Rhône to work with Michel Chapoutier for two years. Upon returning to the United States, he worked at Turley Cellars and Martinelli under Helen Turley before starting Copain in 1999 with his "buddy" (Copain is the French translation of the word), Kevin McQuown. The first vintage, sourced from all over California, received high praise from the likes of Robert Parker, known for his taste in fuller-bodied, riper red wines. Wanting to return to the style that he had learned abroad, in 2009 Guthrie focused on smaller, organically grown vineyards in Mendocino, picking earlier to maintain acidity. Mendocino, particularly Anderson Valley, benefits from being the coolest conditions in California, right along the Pacific Ocean. With a major diurnal shift during the day, and lots of cool fog in the morning, it has a long growing season perfect for Pinot Noir. The winery produces about 25,000 cases of wine annually, separated into three tiers known as Tous Ensemble, Les Voisins, and Single Vineyard wines.