04 Feb Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Copain 2024 Daybreak Red Wine, North Coast, Sonoma County

Sometimes a wine grabs your attention before you even take a sip. That was the case with the Copain Daybreak Red Wine. It sat on my table, and the translucent purple color reflected in the light. I was intrigued. And I was not disappointed when I opened it. Vibrant and compelling, the Copain 2024 Daybreak Red is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Copain

Founded in 1999, Copain, which means “friend” or “buddy” in French, has always embraced the idea that wine is meant to be shared. Perched on a hillside overlooking the Russian River Valley, the winery is best known for vineyard-designate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah sourced from cool-climate sites across Sonoma, Mendocino, and Monterey counties. Led by winemaker Ryan Zepaltas, and inspired by traditional French winemaking, Copain’s wines consistently emphasize restraint, elegance, and food-friendliness.

The 2024 Daybreak Red is not a traditional Pinot Noir or Syrah that Copain is known for. Rather, it is a playful yet serious blend that breaks from convention while remaining firmly rooted in balance. The wine is composed of 70% Sangiovese, 13% Pinot Noir, 12% Pinot Gris, and 5% Malvasia Bianca, made using a combination of techniques including carbonic maceration, open-top fermentation, and stainless steel aging. At just 12% alcohol, it is designed to be served slightly chilled, leaning into freshness and aromatic lift rather than power. The winemaking keeps intervention minimal, and ingredients – grapes, tartaric acid, and sulfur dioxide – are written on the label.

Tasting Notes

The luminous, translucent purple in the glass immediately signaled its lighter frame. Aromatically, the wine is expressive and lifted, with aromas of strawberry, cherry, pomegranate, and floral notes. The wine is light bodied and easy drinking with bright acidity and an energetic texture. The wine is a light-bodied red wine but not a simple wine. Each sip revealed another layer, including savory and exotic nuances. The wine is engaging and dynamic and easy to drink.

Food Pairing

As easy as the wine was to drink, it was also easy to pair with food. Its acidity and fruit make it a great match for pulled pork or fatty, aged cheeses, where the freshness cuts through richness and amplifies flavor. I matched the wine with a mushroom pasta with freshly shaved Parmesan cheese. The savory notes of the wine were enhanced with the mushrooms and the freshness balanced the richness of the cheese and pasta.

Where To Purchase

The Copain 2024 Daybreak Red Wine is an easy, crowd-pleasing wine and retails for $36. It can be ordered directly from the Copain Wines website.