2021 Mari Vineyards 'Troglodyte' Bianco Old Mission Peninsula

Winemaker Notes: Pinot Grigio forms the base of this wine, balancing crisp green apple against the softness of lees aging in a 1200L Stück. Bright Sauvignon Blanc shines with juicy grapefruit and citrus flavor, while herbaceous Grüner Veltliner provides supporting structure. Not trying for showy aromatics, we instead created a balanced, interesting blend—suitable for any occasion. We suggest pairing with Thai cucumber salad, pasta primavera, or seafood paella. For a summer appetizer, try puff pastry topped with goat cheese, asparagus, & lemon zest. A great vintage to enjoy now through 2027.

The Pinot Grigio was harvested from Bella Vista  on September 27th, 2021, fermented, and aged in stainless tanks on its gross lees. It was racked once in January 2022. The Sauvignon Blanc was harvested on October 7th and 14th from Grishaw to capture both acid and notes of ripe tropical fruit. Grapes from the 7th were kept cold for a week in their bins, on the stem, before the 14th harvest arrived. They were all pressed together, fermenting in stainless to start before transferring to a Doppelstück on November 8th. The wine was racked on November 30th to remove gross lees. Grüner Veltliner was harvested from Grishaw on October 26th and fermented in stainless to start before transferring to Stücks on December 22nd. The wine aged until June 3rd, 2022 when it was blended and bottled.

Troglodyte, meaning ‘cave dweller’, is a humorous take on our production staff, who spend much of their time working in our wine caves. Troglodyte wines are based on the idea that blends can be more interesting than the sum of their parts. Winemaker Sean O’Keefe took inspiration from the white wines of Northeastern Italy, utilizing varieties grown on Old Mission Peninsula for our example.