The Next Frontier
THE WINE GROUP PLANTS ITS FLAG IN CALIFORNIA’S PAICINES AVA
by Wanda Mann
Could the tiny and virtually un- known Paicines AVA be the next frontier in fine wine? “I’ve been in [the busi- ness] now for 25 years, and for years we looked outside California for what’s next,” says Jessica Tomei, vice president of winemaking at The Wine Group. Well, not anymore: “Paicines is really exciting because it’s undiscovered for the most part in California,” she enthuses. Why does she consider it “a new treasure for us to explore in our backyard”? Tucked away on the Central Coast in San Benito County, Paicines is just 29 miles from Monterey Bay. Although it became an AVA in 1982, it lacks the name recognition of higher-profile California wine regions; however, insiders like Tomei have long been impressed by the grapes it yields and have blended them with fruit from other areas to boost wine quality. “In a concerted effort to improve wine qual- ity and grape supply, we started exploring fruit from different regions,” she explains.
“Obviously, quality starts in the vineyard. We dedicated a few years to sample and work with growers in different areas in the Central Coast, exploring where we could achieve the best quality for the price.” When Tomei tasted grapes from Paicines, she thought, “There’s something special here.” Ideal climatic conditions contribute significantly to Paicines’ grape-growing prowess. “Due to the proximity to the coast [in this] unique location, you achieve warm days and a cooling effect at night without the dampness of the fog often found in neighboring Monterey County,” explains Tomei. “This balance of heat and cool, along with a long growing season, promotes robust phenolic ripeness.” Con- sistently pleased by the fruit it was sourc- ing, The Wine Group began purchasing vineyards in Paicines and now owns 1,681 acres, of which 1,280 are planted with vines.
Back to News