Radio-Coteau Wines – Sonoma Coast, California
Radio-Coteau is one of California’s most compelling cult wineries – small, biodynamic, and deeply site-driven. Founded by Eric Sussman in Sonoma’s coastal hills, the wines are naturally made with a focus on purity, energy, and minimal intervention. Each bottling – whether it’s the flinty, mineral-edged Wingtine Chardonnay or the silky, coastal-infused La Neblina Pinot Noir – captures the spirit of a specific vineyard and vintage. With limited production and exceptional critical acclaim, these are wines for those who appreciate detail, finesse, and a strong sense of place.
The Radio-Coteau Story
Radio-Coteau takes its name from a French colloquialism meaning “word of mouth” – a fitting title for a winery that built its cult reputation not through advertising, but by quietly producing some of California’s most distinctive, low-intervention wines. Founded in 2002 by Eric Sussman, the estate sits above Occidental on the Sonoma Coast, where fog, wind, and Goldridge soils come together to produce wines of extraordinary purity and expression.
A Farm Beyond the Vines
The 42-acre Radio-Coteau estate is more than just rows of vines – it’s a thriving biodynamic farm where every element works in harmony. Nestled on Goldridge soils just 10 miles from the Pacific, the estate supports Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and old-vine Zinfandel alongside fruit orchards, heritage apple trees, vegetable gardens, and a small herd of goats, chickens, and bees. This diverse ecosystem isn’t just beautiful – it plays a vital role in the health of the vineyard. Cover crops and animal manure build richer soils, pollinators support flowering, and a balance of species reduces the need for intervention. The result? Healthier vines, stronger fruit, and wines that capture the depth, vitality, and natural energy of the land.
The Vineyards – Goldridge Soils & Coastal Fog
Situated on an ancient seabed above the town of Occidental, the estate benefits from Goldridge sandy loam – soils prized for their excellent drainage and ability to restrain vigour. The cool Sonoma Coast climate, coupled with marine fog and long hang times, creates conditions ideal for crafting wines of clarity, complexity, and lift.
Wines That Speak for Themselves
Each Radio-Coteau wine is a lens into a specific site – shaped by the vineyard’s elevation, soil, aspect, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The result is a range of wines that are strikingly different from one another, yet all share purity, energy, and restraint. From the coastal lift of La Neblina Pinot Noir to the flinty tension of Wingtine Chardonnay, and the rounder, Meursault-like elegance of Savoy Chardonnay, every bottling offers something distinctive. Naturally fermented, unfined and unfiltered, these wines are unmanipulated expressions of place – allowing you to taste the story of each vineyard, vintage, and varietal with clarity. For collectors and curious drinkers alike, this diversity is part of the magic: no two bottles taste the same, yet all bear the unmistakable Radio-Coteau signature.
The Label: A Reflection of the Elements
The Radio-Coteau label is a subtle yet powerful representation of the elements that define the estate. Its flowing lines evoke the coastal wind patterns that sweep across the Sonoma Coast and the fog that rolls in from the Pacific each evening – two vital forces that cool the vineyards, slow ripening, and preserve natural acidity. These daily maritime influences are essential to the finesse and freshness of the wines. Even the minimalist design speaks to the winery’s philosophy: quiet precision, organic farming, and respect for the land. It’s a visual cue that what’s inside the bottle is shaped by the rhythms of nature, not intervention.
Why Buy Radio-Coteau Wines?
Radio-Coteau is one of California’s most quietly celebrated producers – a true insider’s secret, discovered not through advertising but word of mouth. The name itself means just that.
Every bottle is made in exceptionally limited quantities, often just a few hundred cases per wine, and entirely from organically or biodynamically farmed vineyards. Eric Sussman’s winemaking is guided by a low-intervention philosophy: native fermentation, no fining or filtering, and minimal new oak. The result is wines that are intensely expressive, pure, and deeply reflective of place.
Critics and collectors consistently praise Radio-Coteau’s precision and character – whether it’s the lifted aromatics and savoury detail of La Neblina Pinot Noir, or the layered minerality of Wingtine and Savoy Chardonnay. These are site-specific wines, each with its own story and identity, yet united by energy, structure, and elegance.