Nick and Andy Peay planted their estate vineyard near Annapolis in 1998 on a remote coastal ridge that most considered too extreme for viticulture. The gamble paid off: Peay Vineyards has become one of the most consistently celebrated small estates on the Sonoma Coast, producing Pinot Noir and Syrah of remarkable clarity and structure alongside an unusually serious white Rhône program. Winemaker Vanessa Wong has been with the estate since its first vintage in 2001. Wines are sold primarily through mailing list.
Scallop Shelf Estate Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast: a floral, perfumed estate Pinot of bright acidity.
Pomarium Estate Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast: the savory, meatier expression of the hilltop estate.
Les Titans Estate Syrah, West Sonoma Coast: a Cornas-like cool-climate Syrah with freshness and lift.
Estate Chardonnay, West Sonoma Coast: a taut, mineral Chardonnay from the far-coast ridge.
Estate Viognier, West Sonoma Coast: a rare, restrained Rhône white; the estate also grows Roussanne and Marsanne.
The estate sits on a remote ridge 600 to 800 feet up, four miles from the Pacific at Sea Ranch and more than an hour west of Healdsburg. Of its 53 acres, 34 are planted to Pinot Noir, with Syrah and Chardonnay alongside small plots of Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne, all farmed organically. Every Peay wine is made at the family's own winery in Cloverdale, fifteen minutes north of Healdsburg. Unlike most producers in the appellation, Peay does not maintain a public tasting room. Friends of Peay members visit by appointment: the Current Release Tasting ($50 per person) and Library Select Tasting ($75) begin with a private tour of the Cloverdale winery and end in its underground barrel hall, while the Estate Vineyard Tasting ($100) pairs a walk through the vines with current and library wines, cheese, and charcuterie. The remote site and meticulous winemaking make a visit one of the most authentic Sonoma Coast experiences available.
