The historic winery embraces the future with a new take on Pinot Noir, Schug’s first new wine in 12 years
SONOMA, CA (May 26, 2021) – Adding a new twist to its family’s long history of working with Pinot Noir, Schug Carneros Estate Winery has crafted a 2020 White Pinot Noir. This modern rendition of Pinot Noir comes from a winery that draws on a century of working with the notoriously fickle-but-elegant grape, a history that goes back to an estate in Germany’s Rheingau region originally planted in the 12th century.
“We are honoring my father’s lifelong passion for the noble and historic grape variety and building upon that with an innovative, modern expression of Pinot Noir,” said Claudia Schug, co-owner and Director of Communication and Education, about Schug’s first new wine in a dozen years.
The grapes for the 2020 White Pinot Noir (SRP: $42) were grown at Ricci Vineyard in Carneros, the source for another rare variety that Schug bottles, the St. Laurent it has produced since 2016. The fruit was hand-harvested at night and gently pressed without any skin contact to preserve the pale color and fresh, delicate flavors of wild strawberries, rhubarb, and white peach.
“We wanted to make something fun and a little bit different that you don’t see very often,” said winemaker Johannes Scheid, who took over production in fall of 2019. “It’s a great summer wine with a bit more texture and mid-palate weight than a rosé.”
The texture and weight of the wine was achieved by fermenting only the purest, free-run juice in neutral French oak barrels, aging the wine for five months sur lie, and twice using the technique of bâtonnage, or lees stirring. Just five barrels were made of this rare and luscious dry white wine that has a mouthwatering texture and vibrant, crisp finish.
The 2020 White Pinot Noir is available through the winery and through a select handful of Schug’s U.S. distribution partners.
About Schug Carneros Estate Winery
Schug Carneros Estate Winery was founded 40 years ago by Walter Schug, the founding winemaker for Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Drawing on his extensive experience in the production of fine wines in both Europe and California, Walter, along with his wife Gertrud, established the winery in the cool marine climate of the Carneros appellation. Today, the winery is owned and operated by Walter and Gertrud’s children Axel and Claudia, who carry on Walter’s legacy along with German-American winemaker Johannes Scheid. Beyond its 42-acre estate vineyards, the winery sources grapes from many of Sonoma County’s premier wine grape growers. Schug wines are available direct from the winery, across the United States, and in over a dozen countries worldwide. Surrounded by estate vineyards, Schug Carneros Estate Winery lies sheltered on a hillside five miles south of the historic city of Sonoma with sweeping views of the Carneros region and Sonoma Valley. For more information, visit www.schugwinery.com
