1999 Chardonnay - 8 Awards including:
InterVin International Wine Competition - GOLD Medal
Dallas Morning News Wine Competition - Silver Medal
West Coast Wine Competition - Silver Medal
1999 Chardonnay
Our wines begin in the vineyard, located in the heart of the Lodi Appellation. The fruit for our estate grown Chardonnay undergoes a dual-harvest. The first picking is done in early August, before the fruit has reached its true maturity, which allows for some high acids. In early September another section of the Chardonnay vineyard black is harvested. The late harvest features fruit with ripe stone fruit characteristics.
The two lost from the two harvests are kept separate and later blended to achieve the desired balance Peirano strives for stylistically. Our 1999 Chardonnay underwent 75% malolactic fermentation, enough to maintain the acidity and soften the wine. This vintage remained in barrels for seven months [the oak consisted of 75% French, 22% American and 3% Hungarian]. Only 25% of the barrels consisted of new oak.
1999 "Six Clones" Merlot - 3 awards including:
InterVin International Wine Competition - GOLD Medal
1999 Six Clones Merlot
Peirano Estate's Merlot is produced from 6 different clones grown on the estate [which include two rare French clones, #181 & #314, which are not readily available in California, and the Italian clone #9. Peirano Estate is currently the only winery in California producing wine commercially from these clones.]. These rare clones, in conjunction with three common clones are field blended together. Each clone's distinctive character combines to produce complex fruit.