Parducci Sustainable Wines

Written by: Tom Pellicane

On this evening we chose to taste two wines, 2007 Sustainable White and 2007 Pinot Noir, from the Mendocino Wine Co. in California, under the Parducci labels. We already knew from their delivery packaging that they were different from many others who have shared their products for review by the Green Palate. Everything within the packaging could be recycled, no Styrofoam peanuts protecting bottles here.

Their press materials state they are “America’s Greenest Winery.” That’s a bold claim that we wanted to understand further.  The vineyard is locally owned and operated, and they source their grapes from local family farms. They are also certified biodynamic and organic, with 67% certified as “fish friendly,” essentially eliminating harmful runoff.  Beyond their growing practices Mendocino utilizes 100% wind and solar energies to power their wares, uses bio-diesel in their vineyard equipment and has the unique distinction of being the first carbon neutral winery in the United States. Whew, all this and we didn’t even taste the wine yet, these folks are off the charts in their green practices. We give thumbs up to partners Tom Thornhill, Tim Thornhill and Paul Dolan for what they’ve accomplished. After reading their press materials, I felt I’d like to hang with these guys for awhile, enjoy a couple of glasses of their wine and listen to how they got here from there.
After perusing their tasting notes we were all excited to see what that produced on the Nose and Palate.  Our tasters for the evening were Matt, Tara, Chris, Adele, Andrew, Katie and I.  Our friends at Whole Foods Market provided snacks they felt would accompany the wines, including 4 kinds of cheese, fruit, chocolate, nuts and olives.

2007 Parducci Sustainable White
A blend of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viogner, Muscat Canelli and Fruiliano.

Nose
The wine was served slightly chilled and was quickly embraced by the panel.  Overall, we felt the nose was clean and crisp with a slight citrus aroma.  Chris sensed a slight “spiciness,” while others (like me) enjoyed hints of green apple. There were also hints of melon for Matt and Adele. This wine had nice legs that hung on the glass, enticing all to taste it.

Palate
On the palate most found the wine light, crisp, slightly sweet and smooth.  Katie said it was “refreshing.”  The hints of apple and melon in the nose carried through on the palate, as did the spiciness for Chris. Matt found the white had the “right amount of acidity and was well balanced.”

Pairing
Whole Foods Market recommended we try two cheeses with the Sustainable White: Etorki and Istara. The two are similar cheeses, both are made from sheep’s milk, are semi-firm and oily in texture; however, the Etorki is pasteurized, while the Istara is a raw milk cheese. Additionally we paired Olives with Herbs De Provence, Marcona Almonds, Grapes, Strawberries and Cherries.  One of the favorite pairings with this wine were the Olives with Herbs De Provence; Matt said they were “perfect“together. Most of the panel favored the Etorki cheese; Adele said it’s “creamy texture and nutty flavor compliments the crisp fruity wine.” I actually preferred pairing with the Istara, as its subtle notes of olive, hazelnut and fig complimented the fruitiness of the wine. Chris found the Istara created a “bitter, melon flavor when paired with the Sustainable White.”  We all agreed that the wine paired well with Strawberries and Cherries, but did not match up well with the grapes.

Sharing
Lastly, we asked the panel if they would buy the wine themselves and recommend to a friend. The answer on this wine was a hands-down “Yes!” Tara said she could “buy a case and never be bored.” Katie said, “There are very few white wines I enjoy, and this is a perfect blend for all.”

2007 Parducci Pinot Noir

Our second wine of the evening was the 2007 Parducci Pinot Noir. The wine was a 2008 Gold Winner at the Denver International Wine Competition. The tasting notes said the wine “offers aromas juicy ripe raspberries and strawberries,” and can be enjoyed “with grilled salmon, pork tenderloin, and fine cuts of red meat.”

Nose
Our panel found the nose of the Pinot Noir slightly buttery and spicy. Chris noted “berry” and a “slight caramel note.”  Most of the panel was disappointed not to find the nose the wine makers notes suggested. However, Tara and Katie found the nose complex, Tara saying it was “more complex than the body eludes.”

Palate
The wine was dry for tasters Matt and Chris, while Andrew tasted hints of cloves and cocoa, as did others.  Katie thought “the palate of the wine didn’t match up to the complexity of its nose.” I found the wine too tannic, even after letting it breathe.

Pairing
For this wine the folks at Whole Foods Market selected a Camembert and Stinking Bishop cheese (its name didn’t disappoint.) Additionally, they recommended some dark chocolate from Ghana and the fruits we have paired with the white.  The dark chocolate was the favorite pairing; the panel found that the bitter sweetness of the chocolate balanced the complexity of the wine. Of the cheeses, the Camembert paired best due to the smooth texture and buttery flavor of the cheese, while the Stinking Bishop just overpowered the Pinot Noir.  As for the fruits, most felt the Cherries were the best pairing for the wine.

Sharing
Although our panel was looking for more white once finished tasting the Pinot Noir, the results were mixed as to whether they would buy themselves and recommend to a friend. Those who would, like Andrew, found it a “nice wine for spring and summer,” even though he “prefers bolder reds” and Tara said it’s a “great spring, summer lunch wine.”

Buying
Parducci wines are sold directly through the Mendocino company website. You can also find a selection of Parducci wines at Whole Foods Market.

Overall Experience
We all found the work of the Mendocino Wine Company to be remarkable. Whether you enjoy red or white, their wines are capable of holding their own. Beyond that, you are contributing to a reduced carbon footprint and you enjoy the fruits of their labor. Tara summed it up best, saying “you feel good drinking it.”