Pax Wines Vermentino is pure magic. What else did you expect when this Italian grape is in the hands of Pax Mahle, one of Sebastopol’s best winemakers.
Vermentino is the perfect end-of-summer wine. It’s acidic, light-bodied, and extremely crowd-friendly.
Your wine friends will look at the label and say something like, “Oh, Vermentino. Good choice.” And your non-wine friends will look at the label and say something like, “Ver-men—-teee-no. What’s this? I like it. You know so much about wine. I love every wine you introduce me to. You’re the best. You’re so smart. I’m so glad we’re friends.”
Pax Mahle, the Sebastopol-based winemaker behind Pax Wines, initially made a name for himself, and a stellar reputation, with his cool climate Syrahs and Gamays. (If you haven’t tried a bottle of Pax’s Syrah or Gamay, add it to your list).
Today, Pax makes accessibly experimental wines with varietals like Mission (California’s oldest, non-wild, grape varietal), Trousseau Gris in Ramato style, Charbono, and, of course, occasionally Vermentino. The wines are an excellent representation of the new California wine style, and Pax Wines makes an appearance on practically every guide to Sebastopol wine tasting. It’s by far one of the best wine tasting rooms in Sebastopol.
Not only is the Pax Wines tasting room just a block from The Barlow, but the indoor/outdoor tasting room has this quintessential, relaxed California vibe, and they always have ridiculously good music playing – oh, and the wine is pretty good too.
But I digress, back to the Vermentino.
What is Vermentino?
Vermentino is an aromatic, light-skinned Italian grape known for it’s thirst-quenching acidity.
Depending on where it’s grown, Vermentino may be harvested early to preserve it’s acidity. The grape typically exhibits notes of citrus, green apple, and almond.
Bottles of young Vermentino are known for their minerality and “of-the-sea” expression.
Vermentino also goes by:
A Little Background on California Vermentino
According to California’s 2020 Grape Acreage Report, there are only 123 acres of Vermentino planted in California.
As far as popular white wine grapes planted in the state, Vermentino sits right below Marsanne, at 126 acres planted, and above St. Emilion (also known as Ugni Blanc or Trebbiano) at 103 acres. For context, California has a whopping 90,684 planted to Chardonnay!
Okay, Back to Pax Mahle’s Vermentino
When I picked up a bottle of this Pax Wines Vermentino last year, I didn’t realize what a unicorn of a bottle it would be. Unicorn in that I can’t find bottles of it anywhere online, and it’s no longer available through the winery – also, unicorn status in that California Vermentino producers are few and far between.
When one of your favorite winemakers decides to experiment with a different grape varietal, it’s like finding a bootleg recording from a concert with your favorite band, at your favorite venue, and the only trace it ever happened is that recording, which no one is willing to sell, or, in this case, a bottle no one can find.
That’s how I feel about this bottle of Pax Wines Vermentino. I wish I would have picked up a few more bottles of this one at the tasting room, because I can’t find it anywhere.
What Does Pax Wines Vermentino Taste Like?
Pax Wines Vermentino uses grapes sourced from Mahoney Vineyards, a certified sustainable vineyard tucked in between Napa and Sonoma, in the Los Carneros AVA.
The first sip reveals an immediate crispness. It’s like, holy cow, let me dip right back into this for another, and possibly another. Followed by an I’m-not-here-to-be-judged look around the room.
You’ll notice citrus of undefinable origin, notes of jasmine, and slightly unripe pear. The body is light, and the color has a sun-bleached straw hue to it. Like a svelte blonde Italian sunbathing on a California beach.
What to Pair with Vermentino Wine
Vermentino is prevalent throughout the Mediterranean, so it pairs well with foods from the region. Try pairing Vermentino with light seafood dishes like oysters, or pesto and olive oil-based pastas with accompaniments like artichokes and garlic.
Where to Buy
I purchased this bottle at the Pax Wines Sebastopol tasting room last year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like this is available directly from Pax Wines or from any online retailers, at least that I can find.
If you’re out and about at your local bottle shop, grab what you can! Or, take a look at their online store for the latest gems in Pax’s wine portfolio. Past wines have included Chenin Blanc, Misson, and Charbono. The Charbono is particularly special!
