Osa Major 2023 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

The Wine

A light‑bodied pinot emphasizing red fruits, this wine is an aberration from the storied RRV Pinots that feature bigger and darker fruit profiles. This wine is typified by its freshness and purity.

Aromas begin by introducing bright cherry and strawberry notes, some sweet pie spice, and a subtle earthy thread that adds a nice complexity. On the palate the wine is silky and high-toned, an experience shaped by a partial whole‑cluster fermentation that added aromatic lift without adding weight. The wines vibrant acidity and a gentle, transparent structure make it an elegant, easy‑drinking Pinot that favors finesse over power (to wit, ABV is just 12%!) and makes it a friendly companion for a wide variety of dishes...

Pairings: the wine's earthiness pulls it toward dishes with herbs and spices, herb-roasted chicken, mushroom dishes, salmon/steelhead grilled with herbs, pork tenderloin with fennel... while the fruit notes suggest equally compelling pairings would come from fruit-based reductions, tagines, and the like.  

The Winery

Osa Major Wines is the personal passion project of winemaker Emily Fernwood, a Bay Area native who founded the label in 2020 (bad timing, Emily!) The launch of her brand was the realization of a dream that grew over many years as she worked harvests in California, Oregon, Australia, and New Zealand. And it was this experience with wines from around the world that shaped her style - a blend of Old World restraint with the brightness and transparency of the California style.

As a true one‑woman operation, Emily handles everything from vineyard relationships to cellar work to bottling, driven by a desire to explore California’s diverse geology and heritage vineyard sites through minimal‑intervention techniques.

Based in Berkeley, California, Osa Major sources fruit from organically farmed vineyards across the state. Emily’s approach centers on native fermentations, gentle handling, and little to no added sulfur, avoiding the additives common in commercial winemaking in favor of purity and expression of place. As a result, each vintage will show variation, reflecting the particular foibles of the particular growing season.