Established in 1983 on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains, Peter Michael Winery is a highly regarded producer known for its diverse range of terroir-driven wines and its dedication to the individuals who operate the winery. When founding the eponymously-titled estate, Sir Peter Michael envisioned a property that would remain under his family's stewardship for over a century. As promised, the winery remains in the hands of the next generation, Paul and Emily Michael, with plans to pass it down to one of their three children. Their shared commitment to the winery extends beyond ownership, ensuring that those responsible for the hands-on winemaking process are operating at the highest caliber.
Current winemaker Robert Fiore is a talented new addition to the team who is cherished for his skills as a geophysicist. Fiore comes on the heels of a distinguished list of winemaking gurus, such as Helen Turley, Mark Aubert, and the Morlet brothers, Nicolas and Luc. This impressive series of talented winemakers has ensured only the finest wines represent the Peter Michael name and the grapes themselves are capable of demonstrating their sense of place.
Peter Michael Winery's diverse portfolio showcases a range of styles from various terroirs throughout Napa and Sonoma, highlighting the winery's ability to cultivate different grape varieties and craft expressive, high-quality wines. Among the most celebrated offerings is the Au Paradis Cabernet Sauvignon, which aptly translates to "In Heaven."
Peter Michael Vineyards
Peter Michael Winery boasts a diverse collection of estate vineyards across Napa and Sonoma counties, each contributing unique characteristics to their acclaimed wines. The Knights Valley estate, situated at high elevations on the volcanic slopes of Mount St. Helena, is home to the Les Pavots vineyard, which produces a flagship Bordeaux-style blend. The Mon Plaisir, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille vineyards, also located in Knights Valley, are dedicated to Chardonnay and showcase the variety's versatility. In the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, the Seaview vineyard yields exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thanks to its cool, coastal influences. The Oakville estate in Napa Valley, home to the Au Paradis vineyard, produces a standout Cabernet Sauvignon that exemplifies the region's signature style. Together, these diverse sites enable Peter Michael Winery to craft a wide range of bottlings, including the L'Esprit des Pavots and L'Après-Midi blends, the Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir, and the L'Après-Midi, Coeur à Coeur, and Clos du Ciel single-vineyard Chardonnays.
Au Paradis
The Au Paradis vineyard is located in the prestigious Oakville American Viticultural Area (AVA) within the Napa Valley. Oakville is renowned for its ideal grape-growing conditions, and it is home to some of Napa Valley's most celebrated wineries. The Cabernet Franc from this area grows right next to the famous Maya wine of Dalla Valle. The combination of climate, soil, and exposure in this region creates an environment conducive to producing exceptional wines.
One of the most distinctive features of the Au Paradis vineyard is its soil. The terroir is characterized by "rocky red Boomer loam," a soil type that has weathered from volcanic rock, clay, silt, and sand. This soil imparts a distinct mineral quality to the grapes and adds to the depth and complexity of the wines. Great wines are born from great soils, and Au Paradis exemplifies this.
Peter Michael History: Sir Peter Michael - From Tech Entrepreneur to Winemaker
Peter Michael's journey to becoming a revered vintner is nothing short of remarkable. With a background in technology and the founding of the digital picture company Quantel in the UK, he arrived in California during the early days of the Silicon Valley tech boom. While it was a world apart from his tech ventures, he soon found himself drawn to the world of winemaking.
Sir Peter's education and early fascination with wine began alongside his father in the vineyards of Bordeaux and Burgundy. However, it was during a performance by Peggy Lee at the Fairmont Hotel in California that the seeds of inspiration for Peter Michael Winery were sown.
On that evening in San Francisco, Sir Peter and his colleagues shared a Chardonnay that would later make history in the Judgment of Paris competition, surpassing the finest wines of France. This transformative experience not only reshaped his European perspective on exceptional wines but also kindled a burning passion within him to craft terroir-driven wines of unparalleled quality, as rich and unique as the California soil itself.
In 1982, Peter and his wife Margaret embarked on their vinous adventure. Their journey commenced with the purchase of a stunning property in the Knights Valley AVA, perched at a lofty elevation of up to 2,000 feet above sea level. This higher altitude creates cooler growing temperatures, which yield wines with an elegant old-world style. Their winery released its first vintage in 1987, marking the beginning of a remarkable legacy.
“When I looked at the creek, looked at the mountain, listened to the noise of the birds, I thought this is the most extraordinary place on earth. But I couldn’t have imagined just how well it would work and how lucky I was to have found it.” – P.M.
Peter Michael Winery is a family-owned estate and is now run by Peter's son, Paul, and his wife, Emily. Their dedication to preserving the winery's heritage and commitment to producing world-class wines has been unwavering.
Robert Fiore, the winemaker, brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the land. After fostering his knowledge in France and smaller Napa wineries, he spent three years working with Tim Mondavi as part of the small winemaking team creating Continuum Estate wines in 2016. His geological background and passion for terroir-driven winemaking make him a perfect fit for the Peter Michael team.
Au Paradis – Heavenly Wines
One of the crown jewels of Peter Michael Winery is the Au Paradis series. The name, meaning "In Paradise" or "In Heaven" in French, aptly describes the experience of tasting these wines:
JS99 “Stunning really. Give it time, if you can keep your hands off it.” 2019 vintage Au Paradis
JD99 “The 2016 Au Paradis is borderline perfection in a glass and shows the incredible quality both of this estate and the vintage. .. this full-bodied, structured, concentrated effort that reminds me of a First Growth Pauillac.” 2016 vintage Au Paradis
JS99 “Classic texture. So fabulous to taste now but will age beautifully for decades to come.” 2013 vintage Au Paradis
Exceeding Critical Acclaim
Notably, three of Peter Michael's wines have ranked in the top 10 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 list, and since the 1995 vintage, an impressive 14 wines have received ratings of 98 points or higher from the renowned wine critic Robert Parker. But the excellence of Peter Michael wines has extended beyond the wine world. Peter Michael Chardonnay, in particular, was served at the White House in 1991 during a dinner honoring Nelson Mandela. This was just the beginning, as their wines graced White House dinners on several other occasions, including a notable one in 1997 honoring Queen Elizabeth.
Pursuit of Excellence
Peter Michael Winery, with its extraordinary journey from the tech world to the terroir, embodies the pursuit of excellence and a deep appreciation for the California land. The Au Paradis series, with its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, showcases the fusion of tradition and innovation, resulting in wines that are truly heavenly. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, Peter Michael's Au Paradis Wines offer a taste of paradise that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
