Lady of the Sunshine 'Mountain Meadow Vineyard' Pinot Noir, SLO Coast, California

Wild strawberry, rose petal, mountain herbs, and coastal earth rise from the glass with lifted aromatics and finely etched structure. 2024 Lady of the Sunshine "Mountain Meadow Vineyard" Pinot Noir captures the tension between California sunshine and cold Pacific influence, drawn from a dry-farmed high-elevation site just four miles from the coast in the mountains above Cayucos. This second release of the bottling reflects Gina Giugni’s commitment to biodynamic farming, whole cluster fermentation, and low-intervention winemaking rooted in transparency, freshness, and site expression.

Product Details:

• Producer: Lady of the Sunshine
• Owners: Gina Giugni, Mikey Giugni
• Winemaker: Gina Giugni
• Vintage: 2024
• Grapes: Pinot Noir
• Farming: Dry farmed vineyard in conversion to Demeter Biodynamic certification
• Vineyard Source: Mountain Meadow Vineyard
• Clone: Pinot Noir Clone 667
• Soil: Alluvial soil with clay loam
• Elevation: 1,500 feet
• Vine Age: Planted in 2008
• Vine Training: Head trained vines planted at 12 x 6 foot spacing
• Harvest Method: Hand harvested
• Fermentation: 100% whole cluster fermentation with native yeast
• Pressing: Basket pressed at dryness in a 2-ton wooden press
• Aging: 10 months in old French oak barrels
• Filtration: Bottled without fining or filtration
• ABV: 12%
• Production: 96 cases produced, approximately 1,152 bottles

Sensory Description:

The wine opens with tart cherry, wild strawberry, blood orange, and rose petal layered with crushed herbs and subtle coastal earth. Whole cluster fermentation contributes lifted spice, fine tannic grip, and aromatic complexity, while the cool mountain site preserves freshness and tension across the palate. Notes of cranberry, black tea, and dried sage emerge through the mid-palate, finishing with mineral persistence, savory nuance, and notable energy.

Producer’s Background:

Lady of the Sunshine was founded by Gina Giugni in 2017 as an extension of her commitment to biodynamic farming, regenerative agriculture, and transparent winemaking on California’s Central Coast. A second-generation biodynamic farmer, Giugni works closely with coastal vineyard sites shaped by limestone soils, elevation, and marine influence, farming with long-term ecological stewardship in mind. Together with her husband Mikey Giugni, she now farms more than 40 acres across the SLO Coast, including the nearby Bassi Vineyard property. The Mountain Meadow Vineyard bottling reflects the project’s continued focus on expressive, site-driven wines produced with native fermentations, minimal additions, and restrained cellar handling.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve lightly cool at 14 to 16 degrees Celsius in a Burgundy glass to emphasize aromatic lift and structural detail. Pair with roast duck, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, herb-roasted chicken, or lentil dishes. The wine’s freshness and savory whole cluster character also make it especially compelling alongside alpine cheeses and woodland-driven cuisine.