With approximately 400 wineries in the Napa Valley area, choosing one to visit can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Do you pick by its size, a catchy name, its history - or possibly just the fancy sign off the road? At times, I even found myself looking at a map, closing my eyes and pointing.

Over the years, I have sniffed, poured and swirled my way through the wine regions of Australia, traveled through the New Zealand Marlborough region, been on a Sideways movie tour in Santa Ynez Valley and attended a family wedding at the Willamette Valley Vineyards in Oregon. You won’t be the only one surprised to find out that I have never been to Napa Valley, partly because of the vast selections available. With a thirst for fermented grape juice, I finally found some time to jump in my car and head north. Anticipated confusion clouded over me as I drove the seven-hour journey. Where should I go? What should I drink? How much wine will fit in my trunk? Will I find a winery that has exceptional wines, great atmosphere and a wine server that yodels and raps?

Founded in 1982 by Anthony Peju, this family-owned winery is conveniently located off the main St. Helena Highway. Since I wasn’t familiar with Peju wines nor had I talked to anyone who had, this was a perfect opportunity to try something new. From the intriguing Sycamore trees designed to look bent in the wind to the scattered geometric sculptures around the gardens, I had a feeling this was going to be a unique winery tour and tasting.

The entrance to the winery takes you directly into their moderately sized retail store with everything from t-shirts to custom mixed spices and BBQ glazes. But before I could browse, I was quickly told that a group tasting session was about to begin and followed the small crowd into the large tasting room tower. We entered into a 1600-square foot building that resembled a French provincial tower complete with its own mezzanine. In the center of the room hung a large antique copper chandelier partially lit by the adjacent 10′ x 20′ stained glass window. Two long tasting bars stood opposite of each other with racks of fine vino behind each server.

I shuffled up to the bar and was quickly greeted by an excited middle-aged man wearing a tie and glasses. Having worked for Peju since 1995, Alan Arnopole was not your typical wine server. Starting at Peju as an event planner, Alan’s personality quickly moved him to the tasting room. His performance was definitely the most entertaining experience I have ever encountered. With enthusiasm and a smile, he spit off a greeting like a seasoned auctioneer. He started with the history of the winery, the building and of course his favorite, the wines themselves. With continued vigor and charm, Alan rapped off Dr. Seuss-like rhymes.

“Chill it, fill it and kill it,” he shouted as he poured us their 2006 Chardonnay.

Over the course of the tasting, he not only proved his knowledge of the wines, but he also endorsed the tools he was using to open the bottles and decant the wine. Their CO2 powered cork popper and single pour decanters were not only eye-catching, but they seemed really handy and efficient in high traffic situations like this. He entertained, informed and kept our glasses filled. During the presentation of each wine, he never failed to mention the best types of food pairing. Suddenly, images danced in my head of a seared halibut with a citrus beurre blanc, accompanied by a refreshing cool glass of their 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Estate. Conveniently, Peju displays recipes online and even hosts cooking classes and functions for large groups.

Well, what about the wine, you ask? This is the best part, as the wine was magnificent. The wine ranged from a creamy finish 2006 Chardonnay to an aromatic 2004 Merlot with hints of vanilla and raspberry. Another tasting room selection was a red and white blend called Provence and even a wonderful peppery Shiraz. The wines complimented the winery and the entire experience was a delight. This was the kind of winery experience that went outside the normal realm of Napa Valley stereotypes.

I left Peju with a few purchased bottles, some merchandise and hopes of joining their wine club someday. A smile was frozen on my face, as I knew it would be hard to top this experience at my next wine destination. No matter how elegant the property or how tasty the wines will be, they won’t be accompanied by the sweet stylin’ lyrics of Alan “The Yodelmeister” Arnopole.

Peju Province Winery
8466 St. Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
Tel: (707) 963-3600
www.peju.com

- Written and photographed by Nathan Nowack (nathan@nathannowack.com)

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