Wind Gap is the latest enterprise of winemaker Pax Mahle and his wife Pamela. The pair were previously part owners of the Sonoma Winery Pax Wine Cellars, but after a falling out with the majority owner, the couple left and started Wind Gap in 2006. The couple sources their grapes from Napa Valley, the Sonoma coast and Paso Robles. Their aim, they say, is to make "honest, authentic and compelling wines from special vineyard sites." While at Pax Wine Cellars, Pax Mahle was considered an up-and-coming maker of artisanal wines. At Wind Gap Mahle continues his enthusiasm for French influenced winemaking and the occasional foray into off-beat varietals, such as Trousseau Gris, a white wine grape grown primarily in France’s Jura region and more recently in select California vineyards. Wind Gap also makes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Grenache, all of which earn compliments from reviewers. Wine Advocate has written that Wind Gap wines “are some of the most gorgeous, nuanced wines being made in California today…. (the) wines achieve that elusive balanced of depth without excess heaviness.”
Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.