1999 Peter Michael Crete d'Or

Of the many stories that accompany the founding of Napa Valley wineries, the story of the Peter Michael Winery is one of the most colorful and unexpected. Peter Michael was born in England, where he led several successful technology companies before being knighted in 1989 in recognition of his career in technology and other industries. In the same year he and his wife Maggie founded Peter Michael Winery in Calistoga. From the beginning it was Peter Michael’s mission to produce limited quantities of Chardonnay and a proprietary red that blended Old World winemaking with New World terroir. He has a talent for attracting talent, and some of the best winemakers in the Napa Valley have worked for him, including Helen Turley and Mark Aubert. All Peter Michael’s premier wines are bottled without filtration. There are 112 acres of vines, growing Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. About 100,000 bottles are produced annually. Winemaker is Nicolas Morlet, a native of Champagne and brother of Luc Morlet, Peter Michael’s former winemaker.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.