Review: Three Pepi Wines from California

Looks like a Pepi party!

Put some Pepi in your glass!

My first exposure to Pepi wines was at the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference. The 2011 Pepi Sauvignon Blanc was one of the wines featured at the speed tasting session. The wine was quite lively. Since then, I have had the pleasure of enjoying the other three Pepi white wines: Pepi Pinot Grigio, Pepi Chenin Blanc-Viognier and Pepi Chardonnay.

Pepi wines are sourced from grapes grown in cool-climate vineyard regions of California.

Cheers to the 2011 Pepi Pinot Grigio.

2011 Pepi Pinot Grigio Tasting Notes

Color of pale straw, with mineral, slate, fresh pear nose, light pear flavor and wonderful minerality through the finish. Clean, crisp, dry white wine. This would be a good seafood wine. I'd pair with steamed clams, oysters on the half shell, Dungeness crab, halibut, sashimi, cheese fondue and pasta alfredo. I liked this wine. Big value at this price. Recommended.

Blend: 90% Pinot Grigio, 10% Chenin Blanc
Vineyard source: Monterey, Sacramento Delta, California
ABV: 12.5%
Price: $10
Sample provided by the winery

2011 Pepi Chenin Blanc-Viognier Tasting Notes

Color also a pale straw, it was fruity, with mango and banana, crisp and dry. Very tropical, reminds me of eating tropical fruit candy. This wine would pair well with spicy Asian food, heat is needed. I'd pair with garlic pepper shrimp, phad thai with hot peppers, pork chops, pulled pork sandwich and fish tacos. Bring on the heat and the Pepi Chenin Blanc-Viognier. This is a food wine and I think Thai Fusion and Mexican food would also be good companions. Restaurants are you paying attention? Recommended.

Blend: 66% Chenin Blanc, 34% Viognier
Vineyard source: Clarksburg, San Joaquin Valley, California
ABV: 13%
Price: $10
Sample provided by the winery

2011 Pepi Chardonnay

Pleasing straw color, on the nose was fig, bread and sage. Medium body, it tasted gently oaked, with apple/pear, crisp, with a tasty finish. This was a pleasure to drink, the winemaker was not heavy handed making this light and fresh Chardonnay. It was a big hit at our home. Of the three Pepi wines, the Chardonnay was the favorite. Very easy to drink, it would be a great hang out wine,a gather arround and gossip with your best friend wine, suitable as a party wine, patio wine or after work wine. I'd pair with chicken, fish and appetizers. Also big value for the price. Recommended.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard source: Arroyo Seco, Sacramento Delta, California
Oak aging: Five months sur lie on French and American Oak
ABV: 12.4%
Price: $10
Sample provided by the winery

Pepi head winemaker Mark Rasmussen certainly delivers on the everyday, easy-drinking white wine category. These are affordable, ready to drink white wines. Uncomplicated, but satisfying. Their lable reminds me of surfboards standing on end. Which makes me think of sun, sand, vacation and good times. I liked these wines. Thank you Pepi!

Look for these wines at your local grocer.

Pepi was one of the first California wines to be bottled with Stelvin screw cap closures. I no longer have problems with screw caps. They make it easy to open the bottle, while protecting the flavor of your Pepi wine. And these are buy me drink me wines, go find some Pepi and enjoy. Cheers!

Pepi Winery
8418 South Lac Jac Avenue
Parlier, California 93648
Tel: 559.638.3544
Fax: 559.638.6272
www.pepi.com

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