Jennifer Jespersen

Lead sommelier, Farmhouse Inn, Forestville

Which wine sums up Sonoma County in a bottle? The region is so diverse and has so many microclimates that there isn’t one varietal we focus on. We’re not like Napa Valley. If I say Napa, you think cab sav. And if I say Barossa, you think shiraz. But here it’s about the individual AVAs: Dry Creek Valley does zinfandel; in Alexander Valley, it’s cabernet sauvignon; and Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast do pinot noir and chardonnay.

What local wine should we drink now? You can buy pretty much any wine from Scherrer Winery (scherrerwinery.com). Fred Scherrer sits on his wines and releases them only when they’re ready so they drink beautifully right away.

And what should we cellar? Eric Sussman at Radio-Coteau (radiocoteau.com) makes pinot noirs and syrahs that you can lay down for eight to 12 years. They’re beautiful wines that can hold their own. You have $20 to spend. What would you buy?

Dry Creek Vineyard (drycreek vineyard.com) makes a stellar sauvignon blanc – bright, fruit-driven, not overly grassy and nicely balanced.

And if money were no object? Occidental (occidentalwines. com) produces stunning pinot noirs. The one I love is the 2015 Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth.