Danish-born Leo Steen, who manages his own winery (Leo Steen Wines) in Sonoma, is the “Scout” for this wine. Through his extensive network in the region, in collaboration with Østjysk Vinforsyning, he has been able to select the perfect grapes and craft the wine to match a well-defined flavor profile tailored to fine gastronomy and the Danish market.
The name Sugar Mill refers to an old sugar mill, originally a sugar beet factory, which now operates as a winery for skilled Californian winegrowers.
Sugar Mill Pinot Noir is made from 99% Pinot Noir from the single vineyard Wilson Vineyard, located just 3 km from the old sugar mill in the heart of Clarksburg AVA. To round off the wine, Leo has added 1% Grenache, which contributes a touch of sweetness and juiciness. The grapes were harvested relatively early to preserve freshness and limit sugar content, thereby keeping the alcohol percentage low. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks at The Sugar Mill and then transported to Leo Steen’s facilities in Sonoma, where it matured for 5 months in older French oak barrels and 2 months in steel tanks before being bottled unfiltered.
Sugar Mill Pinot Noir is a European-style Pinot Noir with Californian origins. It boasts a beautiful, clear ruby-red color. The wine is fresh with good acidity and offers a delightful fruitiness with notes of wild strawberries, ripe raspberries, and a hint of warm holiday spices. It has a lovely aftertaste with food-friendly tannins and balanced acidity. The wine is unfiltered, ensuring a harmonious and well-balanced structure. All in all, it’s a sublime Pinot Noir experience, offering a unique connection between origin, quality, and price.
The wine pairs excellently with venison, beef, or a delicious grilled salmon. Serve at approximately 17–18°C and slightly cooler for salmon.
SCOUT was founded in 2024 and represents a range of wines that must meet the following three criteria:
They must be representative of their regions.
They must be of high quality.
They must be reasonably priced.
For this search and selection, we rely on our Scouts. Through our extensive network of winemakers, we carefully select the best winemakers (Scouts) with vast experience and wines already available on our market under their own labels.
At Østjysk Vinforsyning, we are involved every step of the way. We know how the wines should taste, what suits the Danish style, and what complements Nordic cuisine. Together with our Scouts, we select the grapes, determine the flavor direction, and design the presentation – with quality in mind at every stage. Our Scouts put their names on the wines (“SCOUT by…”), symbolizing the close collaboration and personal touch behind each bottle.
