At Papapietro Perry Vineyard in Healdsburg, CA, Pinot Noir has lengthy been the main focus. For 25 years in reality. Ben Papapietro and Bruce Perry began making wine in Ben’s San Francisco storage earlier than ultimately transferring in 1998 to Sonoma County to launch Papapietro Perry Vineyard. They made their wine at Windsor Oaks Vineyard close to Santa Rosa, incomes very-early-on favorable point out in Wine Spectator and different wine publications because the craze for high quality California Pinot Noir started.
It was clear from the beginning that the duo’s unique storage wines had been particular. As phrase of mouth grew in regards to the Papapietro Perry wines, Ben and Bruce realized their avocation was way more than a pastime. Ben took a job as normal supervisor of a Sonoma County vineyard to be able to totally transition to the wine world whereas he and Bruce secured fruit from what turned out to be distinctive Russian River Valley vineyards.
As we speak, the vineyard makes a variety of high-end, small-lot Pinots that routinely obtain crucial acclaim. Lengthy-held shut relationships with a handful of high growers and a minimalist method to winemaking stay a core basis of the vineyard and its winemaking crew, presently owned and led by Bruce’s spouse Renae Perry and Ben and Yolanda Papapietro. (Sadly, Bruce handed away in 2022). The wines are sought-after by Pinot Noir aficionados, and the vineyard enjoys a devoted mailing record of shoppers for its new releases.
Winemaker Ben Papapietro meticulously crafts a line of 4 single-vineyard Pinot bottlings from high websites, together with a pair of unique “clone” bottlings that spotlight two of essentially the most revered Pinot Noir clones, Pommard and 777. Every is a pure expression of Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley, showcasing the variability and terroir with out being over extracted or over oaked. These wines seize the distinctive character of the vineyards and have a constant observe report:
Papapietro Perry 2019 Pinot Noir, Leras Household Vineyards, Russian River Valley ($66). Leras is within the coronary heart of the Russian River Valley and is planted with outdated vine Pommard clones in addition to newer vines of the 777 clone and others. The wine options expressive aromatics and a juicy palate that balances vibrant fruit with Russian River Valley minerality.
Papapietro Perry 2019 Pinot Noir, Peters Winery, Russian River Valley ($66). The winery is west of Sebastopol, a cool website on the fringe of the Russian River Valley. This wine is perfumed with aromas of cherry and raspberry. A contemporary, vigorous palate with a pleasant contact of oak follows.
Papapietro Perry 2019 Pinot Noir, Nunes Winery, Russian River Valley ($66). Situated in an alluvial bench of the Russian River Valley with silty, clay loam soils. This well-structured wine is advanced with aromatics of cherry and raspberry.
Papapietro Perry 2019 Pinot Noir, Campbell Ranch, Sonoma Coast ($66). The distant winery website is within the West Sonoma Coast close to the city of Annapolis. This wine options engaging aromas of plum and strawberry with hints of contemporary herbs and toasty oak; the colourful palate has an extended end.
“We now have been lucky over time that so many individuals recognize the wines as a lot as we do,” mentioned Renae. “We’ve earned success and are extra established. However the easy want to craft the most effective Pinot Noir we will—and to maintain the entire thing decidedly enjoyable— is what makes the vineyard an excellent place to go to and the wine within the bottle so particular.”
The vineyard’s Dry Creek tasting room instructions postcard views of the vineyards from its comfy, spacious patio, the place company get pleasure from seated tastings with a charcuterie plate from native purveyors. For these unable to go to, the vineyard affords a long-running sequence of partaking digital tastings with meals pairing themes that vary from caviar to artisanal cheese. And consistent with Papapietro Perry’s beneficiant hospitality, canine are enthusiastically welcomed with treats, contemporary water, a complimentary canine bowl, and, as a rule, a photograph shoot for the vineyard’s social media.
Renae and Yolanda have additionally taken a management position within the wine business in help of ladies within the enterprise. In 2021 they based Nationwide Ladies in Wine Day, a social initiative to supply sources and empowerment to girls within the wine business and people searching for to enter the enterprise. Ladies in Wine Day (#WomenInWineDay) is March 25th annually, and it serves to spotlight tales of ladies within the wine business.
Images courtesy of Papapietro Perry Vineyard
