At Papapietro Perry Vineyard in Healdsburg, CA, Pinot Noir has lengthy been the main focus. For 25 years in actual fact. Ben Papapietro and Bruce Perry began making wine in Ben’s San Francisco storage earlier than finally 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 concerning the Papapietro Perry wines, Ben and Bruce realized their avocation was far more than a interest. Ben took a job as basic supervisor of a Sonoma County vineyard to be able to absolutely transition to the wine world whereas he and Bruce secured fruit from what turned out to be distinctive Russian River Valley vineyards.
In the present day, the vineyard makes a variety of high-end, small-lot Pinots that routinely obtain crucial acclaim. Lengthy-held shut relationships with a handful of prime growers and a minimalist strategy to winemaking stay a core basis of the vineyard and its winemaking staff, at the moment 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 consumers for its new releases.
Winemaker Ben Papapietro meticulously crafts a line of 4 single-vineyard Pinot bottlings from prime 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 monitor 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 Leras is within the coronary heart of the Russian River Valley and is planted with outdated vine Pommard clones in addition to newer vines of the 777 clone and others.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 web site on the fringe of the Russian River Valley. This wine is perfumed with aromas of cherry and raspberry. A recent, energetic palate with a pleasant contact of oak follows.
Papapietro Perry 2019 Pinot Noir, Nunes Winery, Russian River Valley ($66). Positioned 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 web site is within the West Sonoma Coast close to the city of Annapolis. This wine options attractive aromas of plum and strawberry with hints of recent herbs and toasty oak; the colourful palate has a protracted end.
“We’ve been lucky over time that so many individuals admire the wines as a lot as we do,” stated Renae. “We’ve earned success and are extra established. However the easy need to craft the most effective Pinot Noir we are able to—and to maintain the entire thing decidedly enjoyable— is what makes the vineyard an incredible 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 snug, spacious patio, the place visitors take pleasure in seated tastings with a charcuterie plate from native purveyors. For these unable to go to, the vineyard presents a long-running collection of participating digital tastings with meals pairing themes that vary from caviar to artisanal cheese. And in line with Papapietro Perry’s beneficiant hospitality, canine are enthusiastically welcomed with treats, recent 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 function within the wine business in help of girls within the enterprise. In 2021 they based Nationwide Girls in Wine Day, a social initiative to offer assets and empowerment to ladies within the wine business and people in search of to enter the enterprise. Girls in Wine Day (#WomenInWineDay) is March 25th annually, and it serves to focus on tales of girls within the wine business.
Photographs courtesy of Papapietro Perry Vineyard
