Just north of San Francisco, a sprawling patchwork of vineyards, climates, and personalities produces some of the most exciting wines in the world. The surprise is how few people know the full story.

From chalky soils to celebratory toasts, understanding the world's most revered sparkling wine begins with knowing its origins.

Where monastic devotion to single vineyards created a wine philosophy that transforms Pinot Noir and Chardonnay into liquid poetry, commanding prices that defy economic logic.

A closer look at Pinot Noir, and how various examples of this fine grape differ from each other.