MARCH 23, 2018 WEEKLY SINCE 1981
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PEJU
WINERY 35th A nniversary Once you pull off Highway 29 south of St. Helena into the artistically planted and pruned grounds of Peju Province Winery, you know you’ve come across something special. Founded 35 years ago, the estate grounds are an oasis of manicured gardens, fountains, art and architecture. And, inside the well-appointed tasting room, Peju’s wines speak for themselves.
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Delighting all the Senses
35 Years Later, an Evolution of Varietals When owner and founder Tony Peju bought the 30-acre property in 1983, he figured he might as well make wine with the vineyards planted there—Cabernet Sauvignon and French Colombard. But he didn’t know the first thing about winemaking, according to Tasting Room Ambassador Joey Tipton. That first batch went right down the drain. After some education and a little time, Peju made a second batch of Cabernet Sauvignon, which ended up winning double golds and other awards at wine competitions. The Peju family— Tony, wife Herta and daughters Lisa and Ariana—began selling their wine out of their garage. They completed the tower tasting room in 2003, a design conceived by Tony Peju before he even purchased the property. An early drawing of his vision graces each label of Peju wine. Now, visitors can revel in the opulence of the tasting room and enjoy a range of varietals all grown on Peju-owned vineyards in Napa Valley. Winemaker Sara Fowler delivers masterpiece standards, such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as rarer finds, like 100 percent Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Peju also creates a few unique blends, including Province, a refreshing and approachable blend of red and white wines common to southern France, where Tony spent much of his childhood.
While great wine is certainly the draw attracting visitors to Peju, other delights await throughout the winery. In the tower tasting room, Peju has German-made stained glass that is 110 years old and features the three graces of Greek mythology. Also in that room, you might come across Alan Arnopole, a tasting room ambassador who has worked at the winery for more than 20 years, and sings and plays guitar as he educates visitors about Peju and its wines. The estate’s walls are covered with arts and crafts of all kinds, reflecting the Pejus’ love of art. Upstairs, above the tasting room, features works from primarily local artists. Peju’s gardens are a work of art as well. “People who may have never even been here know about our arching Sycamore trees, or the Dr. Seuss trees as they are often called” says Haley Rose, associate digital marketing manager. “We also have over 600 award-winning teddy bear sunflowers that bloom each summer.” Tony Peju, a trained horticulturist, has created a carefully crafted outdoor space teeming with manicured lawns, perfectly pruned flowering plants and trees accessed by meandering footpaths around the estate. A series of raised garden beds at the edge of the vineyards provides fresh produce for Peju’s wine and food events.
Excelling with Pairings Peju offers a wine and culinary exploration featuring seasonal small bite and wine menus using produce from the winery’s gardens. The cheeses for the small farm cheese and wine pairing come from small, local creameries, such as Point Reyes Farmstead and Nicasio Valley Cheese Company. These pairing experiences are part of Peju’s culinary offerings, and guests can also inquire about private farm-to-table lunches as well as interactive culinary experiences and team building experiences. >> SHOSHANA HEBSHI
Open Daily 10am-6pm 8466 St Helena Hwy, Rutherford (707) 963-3600 peju.com 23
CONTENTS
MARCH 23, 2018 ISSUE 12 VOLUME 37
FEATURES 12 | UNDERSTANDING WINE: SAUVIGNON BLANC Recommended Labels, 13 Swirl, Sniff, Sip Savor, 14 How to Pair Like a Pro, 15 10 | SIGNATURE SONOMA VALLEY Sonoma Vintners & Growers 16 | LEDSON WINERY The Castle 18 | RUTHERFORD RANCH WINERY Relax, Sip and Stroll 20 | ROTH ESTATE WINERY Adults At Play 21 | EXPERIENCE ROSÉ The 2018 Competition Event 22 | PEJU WINERY Celebrating their 35th Anniversary! 30 | HUGE BEAR WINERY History and a Recipe 32 | STAGS LEAP DISTRICT: VINEYARD TO VINTNER 33 | EXPERIENCE ROSÉ: AN EVENT 38 | ARTS IN APRIL 42 | TEDESCHI FAMILY WINERY 48 | SONOMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 50 | SAVOR SONOMA VALLEY 30 Wineries Barrel Tasting 52 | EPICURE ALERT 2018 Annual Culinary Events/Countywide 55 | A WHALE OF A TIME
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Roth Estate Wines Located off Chalk Hill Road in Healdsburg, Roth Estate winery has built its reputation as a cornerstone producer of Bordeaux varietals in Sonoma County. Their bold, flavorful wines coupled with their fun, laidback atmosphere makes Roth a must-visit winery. The tasting room and wine caves opened in 2015, and has since become a “hot spot” for wine country tourists and locals.
22 ON THE COVER Peju WInery You know you’ve come across something special. Founded 35 years ago, the estate grounds are an oasis, fountains, art and architecture. And, inside the well-appointed tasting room, Peju’s wines speak for themselves.
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REGULARS 8 | WINEOLOGY What should I look for on a wine label?. Part 1 24 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS 63 | TOP CAVE TOURS 66 | WINERY TASTING ROOM LISTINGS Napa Valley, 58 Sonoma County, 6 5 Monterey, Santa Cruz & Santa Clara Counties, 74 Lake & Mendocino Counties, 76 Suisun Valley, 77 | Yolo County, 77 Bay Area/Livermore, 78
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HOURS DAILY 10AM-6PM
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2/17/17 1:08 PM