Ravines Wine Cellar - Agricolāe Pinot Noir 2024

Ravines Wine Cellars was founded by Morten and Lisa Hallgren, a European-trained winemaker and his chef wife who set out to make distinctly dry, terroir-driven wines in the Finger Lakes. Morten grew up among the vineyards of Provence and arrived in New York with a deep Old World perspective, eventually pioneering a style of bone-dry, mineral-driven Riesling that helped reshape perceptions of what Finger Lakes wine could be. Today, Ravines farms more than 130 acres of sustainably managed estate vineyards on Seneca and Keuka Lakes, with limestone and shale soils, steep slopes and exceptional natural drainage. The wines are made with a transparent, classical approach designed to preserve the character of the vineyard and vintage showcasing some of the finest wines of the Finger Lakes region.

Agricolāe is Ravines’ distinctly Keuka Lake expression — a self-contained farm winery built around a remarkable property whose original vineyards date to the 1970s. Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Noir, Cayuga, Vignoles and Noiret planted during those early years remain today, joined by newer plantings of Gamay Noir, Savagnin and Cabernet Franc. The vineyards occupy steep slopes above the deepest part of Keuka Lake, where poor, rocky shale soils naturally restrict vine vigor while the lake provides protection and a long growing season. The result is an ideal setting for the cool-climate qualities that define the Finger Lakes: crystalline aromatics, lively acidity, mineral definition and remarkable freshness. The name Agricolāe is a tribute to the people who tend these vineyards — a reminder that before wine is made, there is the demanding agricultural work of planting, pruning, cultivating and harvesting.

Agricolāe’s Pinot Noir is a beautifully transparent expression of cool-climate Pinot, opening with a captivating bouquet of red berries and delicate floral notes before revealing more alluring flavors of wild strawberry, red cherry and raspberry upon first sip. The palate is silky and energetic, with bright acidity giving shape to the fruit while subtle spice and earthy nuances add depth through the finish. There is a lovely sense of restraint here — the wine feels polished without sacrificing the natural freshness that makes Finger Lakes Pinot so compelling. Enjoy it with grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, roast chicken, duck breast, or a simple roast of pork.