Event details
Cool-Climate California Masterclass
Vinous Icons Masterclass exploring California’s coolest growing regions.
Date:February 27, 2026
Time:4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Location:Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, New York City
Organizer: Vinous Icons
Moderator: Billy Norris
Ojai Mountain’ Erich Bradley is joining the Cool-Climate California Masterclass at Vinous Icons 2026 on February 27th, moderated by Vinous critic Billy Norris. This 90-minute seminar-style tasting explores how cooler climates shape California wine structure and expression, featuring producers from Sonoma County, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Santa Barbara. The masterclass brings together long-established voices and emerging estates in an examination of the distinct terroirs that define California's coolest growing regions.
What You'll Experience
This masterclass goes beyond typical wine tastings. Over 90 minutes, attendees will taste a curated selection of wines from California's most distinctive cool-climate regions, each chosen to illustrate how temperature, elevation, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean influence wine character. Billy Norris, Vinous critic and expert in California wine regions, will guide participants through a comparative tasting that reveals how cool-climate conditions create wines with higher natural acidity, more elegant structure, and distinctive aromatic profiles compared to California's warmer inland areas.
Featured Wineries
Roar, Clarice Wine Company, Denner Vineyards, Domaine de la Côte, DuMOL, Far Mountain, Kistler Vineyards, Rhys Vineyards, Hirsch Vineyards & Ojai Mountain.
2023 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict — Sanford Winery, presented by Trey Fletcher
2023 Chardonnay Volpert Vineyard — Ferren Winery, presented by Matt Courtney
2023 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard — Kistler Vineyards, presented by Jason Kesner
2023 Chardonnay DuMOL Estate Vineyard — DuMOL, presented by Andy Smith
2023 Pinot Noir Sous le Chêne — Domaine de la Côte, presented by Sashi Moorman
2018 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands — Clarice Wine Company, presented by Adam Lee
2023 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard Ungrafted Vines — Rhys Vineyards, presented by Jeff Brinkman
2023 Pinot Noir Estate Block 8 — Hirsch Vineyards, presented by Jasmine Hirsch
2023 Mourvèdre Ojai Mountain, presented by Erich Bradley 2023 Dirt Worshipper — Denner Vineyards, presented by Mark Williams
2018 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard — ROAR Wines, presented by Gary Franscioni
Why Cool-Climate California Matters
California's reputation was built on warm-climate powerhouses like Napa Valley, but the state's most exciting evolution is happening in cooler regions. Areas influenced by marine fog, coastal winds, and higher elevations are producing wines with finesse, balance, and age-worthiness that challenge traditional California stereotypes.
Natural acidity that provides structure and freshness
Lower alcohol levels resulting from slower, more even ripening
Aromatic complexity with brighter fruit profiles and herbal notes
Age-worthiness due to balanced pH and tannin structure
Food-friendly profiles that pair elegantly with diverse cuisines
These regions, from the fog-shrouded Santa Cruz Mountains to the wind-swept Santa Rita Hills, represent California's answer to the global trend toward wines of place, restraint, and terroir expression.
Ojai Mountain's Cool-Climate Story
Ojai Mountain represents Santa Barbara County's distinctive cool-climate character. Located in the mountains above Ojai, our estate benefits from elevation, marine influence, and dramatic diurnal temperature swings that define cool-climate viticulture.
Ojai Mountain's Terroir: Elevation, Marine Influence, and Soil Composition
Elevation: 2,800-3,000 feetMarine influence: 10 Miles from the Pacific with unobstructed views and strong windsUnique East-West orientation of the mountains allows for Pacific to come into the ridge easily and moderate temperatures throughout the growing seasonDiurnal shifts: 40-50°F temperature swings between day and night preserve acidity and aromatic compoundsSoil composition: fractured, well-drained shale rocky soils force vines to struggle and naturally limit vigorSemi-arid climate with long-term average of 21 inches of annual precipitation with large variability. Multiple years below 6 inches. Rains is concentrated within 3 months of the growing season.
These conditions allow us to produce wines with the structure, acidity, and lift that define world-class cool-climate viticulture, characteristics we'll showcase alongside our fellow California producers at this masterclass.
Ojai Mountain is among the most southerly sites producing cool-climate wines.
What are we pouring
Selected for the Cool Climate Seminar at Vinous Icons NYC, this high-elevation expression shows the refinement Mourvèdre acquires with relentless winds and cooler nights.
2023 Mourvèdre is wild and earth-driven, with notes of dark plum, cracked pepper, and mountain herbs. Structured yet vibrant. Built for age but striking in its youth.
Vinous Review | Tasting Notes | Purchase Wine
How to buy tickets for the Event
This masterclass is part of Vinous Icons 2026, a two-day celebration of exceptional wines from around the world. The Cool-Climate California session offers a rare opportunity to taste these wines side-by-side with guidance from one of the region's leading critics.