Kosta Browne

Kosta Browne is one of California's premier boutique wineries, best known for its Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. The small winery was founded in 1997 by partners Dan Kosta and Michael Browne, whose business savvy and perseverance catapulted Kosta Browne into national recognition. With a Wine Spectator 'Wine of the Year' award under its belt and new vineyard acquisitions in Burgundy, Sta. Rita Hills, Russian River Valley, and more, Kosta Browne Winery is an estate that wine enthusiasts should be keen on collecting. 

Kosta Browne Winery: Humble California Beginnings 

Kosta Browne Winery is named after its founders, Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. The pair were friends and coworkers at John Ash & Co., a popular restaurant in Santa Rosa, CA. Both men shared a love of wine and began saving $10 each night they worked together, intending to one day open a winery. After a few months, Kosta and Browne saved $1400 and purchased a half ton of Pinot Noir grapes from Everett Ridge, a used barrel, and a second-hand de-stemmer. From this, the inaugural Kosta Brown Pinot Noir was produced and distributed to the restaurant's VIP clients and close family and friends. Understanding the need for more funds, Kosta and Browne secured angel investments and contacted the owners of Cohn Vineyards, who agreed to sell the pair Pinot Noir.

While waiting for the final blend to age, Kosta and Browne developed a formal business plan with local entrepreneurs, Rick Markoff, Jim Costello, and his son, Chris. The partnership looked hopeful, though negotiations stalled for three years, and after multiple meetings, rewrites, and restructures, Kosta Browne raised $1 million from 19 investors. By 2003, the estate produced multiple labels, earning its big break with the Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, which was rated 95 points by Wine Spectator. Almost instantaneously, Kosta Browne Winery became a cult sensation, skyrocketing into California wine's upper echelon.

Almost two decades after Kosta and Browne began the winery, the pair sold a majority of shares to the private equity firm, JW Childs Associates. Four years later, in 2019, the pair fully stepped down and left ownership to Duckhorn Vineyards.

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir

"Pinot Noir, a wine many considered least likely to succeed, has become Sonoma's signature red. Leading that parade is Kosta Browne, proving how far dreams can carry you." — Wine Spectator

Inspired by the great Pinots of Burgundy, Kosta Browne Pinot Noir has become one of California's finest expressions of the fruit. Today, the estate produces around 15,000 cases annually from five series: the Burgundy Series, Appellation Series, Estate Series, Single Vineyard Series, and Observation Series.

Burgundy Series

The Kosta Browne Burgundy Series represents wines produced from Premier Cru Vineyards in Burgundy. The winery began this series with the 2020 vintage, releasing five bottlings from Pommard, Volnay, Nuits St. George, Chablis, and Beaune. 

Appellation Series

The Kosta Browne Appellation Series is a group of wines that capture the spirit of the exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay regions the winery uses. These wines are a blend of individual vineyards and blocks that are most expressive of the respective AVAs.

Estate Series

The Kosta Browne Estate Series showcases wines made from select clones and rootstocks that best highlight the characteristics of each site. 

Single Vineyard Series

The Kosta Browne Single Vineyard Series is the most limited of the estate, as each label is produced from one vineyard. Around 13 different labels are produced each vintage, with the Kosta Browne 4 Barrel becoming one of the estate's most recognizable and acclaimed bottles.

Observation Series

The Kosta Browne Observations Series allows an unrestricted approach to winemaking, as the winemakers are empowered to pay close attention to detail to each step. These experimental wines are rarely available on the open market, with limited production allocated to VIP mailing list members. 

Kosta Browne Vineyard Sites

When Kosta Browne Winery was founded in 1997, the estate crafted wines with purchased fruit from its facility in Sebastopol, California. However, since 2013, they have purchased sites in Anderson Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Sta. Rita Hills.

• Anderson Valley is Kosta Browne's northernmost winemaking region, with steep hillside and rocky terrain. Cerise Vineyard is the estate's focal point in the valley, located 1,000 feet above sea level and marked by Bearwallow complex soil. Here, the Chardonnay vines are pushed to their limits, producing vibrant and complex fruit. The final cuvees are noted for their honeycombed and spice finish, creamy texture, and light fruit aromas. 
• Kosta Browne owns three vineyards in the Russian River Valley: El Diablo, Giusti Ranch, and Keefer Ranch. Each of the sites are naturally cooled at night by the nearby Pacific Ocean, which protects the vines from warm daytime temperatures. The diurnal temperature variation slows down ripening and promotes evolved flavors. Overall, seven different wines are created from this AVA. 
• Kosta Browne's Sonoma Coast overlaps with Russian River Valley sites, offering a similar terroir. Thorn Ridge Ranch and Gap’s Crown Vineyard each receive cool air and fog from the Pacific Ocean, giving the ripened Pinot Noir bright acidity and exceptional aging potential. 
• Santa Lucia Highlands is a new AVA located on the eastern slopes of Salina Valley. The region receives cool ocean breezes from the Monterey Bay, and each vineyard is sheltered by the coast range. Rosell's Vineyard, Garys' Vineyard, and Pisoni Vineyard are all part of the Single Vineyard series, offering different expressions of Pinot Noir. 
• Kosta Browne's newest California acquisition is the Mt. Carmel and Rita's Crown vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills. As the southernmost growing region at the estate, these wines are known for their natural acidity and firm structure due to the sandy loam soils. As a cool-climate region, the terroir is perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, which flourish and slowly age with long "hang times."

What is the Best Kosta Browne Pinot Noir?

With so many Kosta Browne Pinot Noir vintages, it can be difficult for collectors to choose the best option for their cellars. However, its two-year mailing list wait time should encourage those individuals to try whichever bottle readily presents itself, as there is truly no incorrect option. 

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir 2016

Only 8,500 cases of the 2016 Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir were produced, each bottle beautifully displaying the estate's masterful winemaking. The light-bodied wine was representative of Kosta Browne's transformation from an intense, fruit-forward style to a restrained, harmonious character. Resultingly, the final cuvée dazzled critics, with Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media stating, "Floral and gracious, the 2016 has a lot to offer." 

Kosta Browne 2021 Pinot Noir

One of Kosta Browne's recent releases is the 2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. The wine received 94-point scores from four critics and publications — James Suckling, Jeb Dunnuck, Decanter Magazine, and The Wine Advocate. Each review celebrated the layered finish, powerful mouthfeel, and ripe aromas. 

Kosta Browne Wine of the Year

Possibly the greatest Kosta Browne Pinot Noir is the 2009 Sonoma Coast bottling, which won Wine Spectator's 'Wine of the Year' in 2011. When speaking about the bottle, head winemaker Michael Browne stated, "Every time, that wine came out near the top... It was pretty amazing. It just kept getting better." The award was an unprecedented achievement for a small, boutique winery, yet helped place California Pinot as a respected and sought-after wine.