Visit to Schug Carneros Estate Winery in Sonoma Valley

Our first winery stop on the recent trip to Sonoma and Napa Valley was in the town of Sonoma, and more particularly in the Carneros American Viticultural Area (AVA).  Located on windswept hills beneath the Petaluma Gap, Schug Carneros Estate Winery is a family business with strong winemaking roots.  The founder, Walter Schug, immigrated from Germany in 1961.  He had made wine in the Rheingau region, on the Rhine River, known as one of the best areas for wine in all of Germany.  Once in California, that winemaking heritage would be put to good use.

Walter worked for Julio Gallo between 1966 and 1972, managing contracts with area vineyards.  After that he began to work with Joseph Phelps, when Phelps was just starting.  Walter helped him get the vineyard and winery off the ground, also serving as the founding winemaker.  Those vineyard contacts proved invaluable as they waited for the estate vines to yield mature crops.  A turning point happened in 1980, when Phelps decided to stop making Pinot Noir.  The Pinot Noir varietal was in Walter Schug’s blood from his days in the Rheingau.  He asked Phelps if he could use the grapes and make a wine under his own label, which was the agreed upon.  Walter bottled Pinot Noir under the Schug Cellars label until he left in 1983 to start his own winery.

Today Schug Carneros has 50 acres in the southern Sonoma Valley.  The land under vine is devoted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and was purchased in 1989.  They also purchase grapes from select growers.  A modern winery is on property.  The operation is moderately sized, at about 400,000 bottles per year and is also still managed and owned by the Schug family.  Walter’s daughter Claudia and son Axel taking prominent roles on the wine side of the house, while Kristine Schug is the resident chef, pairing food with the various wine courses to create a complete tasting experience.

The winery supports all stages of production of all Schug wines.  Caves were constructed for aging, and extensive barrel rooms are filled with a variety of cooperage.  On one impressive, large cask, a completely hand carved front marks

a gift to Walter Schug from the German Rieger family, makers of high quality stainless steel wine making equipment.  Walter was influential in the adoption of Rieger equipment in the area, and the cask was in recognition of that.  You can see their Rieger stainless tanks, as well as the carved cask front, on the Schug Cave Tasting and Tour.

Of course we’re here to talk about the wine, and we tried several.  Here they are:

2021 Rose of Pinot Noir – this is very pale salmon pink, getting its color from a 4 hour cold soak and skin contact.  After a gentle press it is finished in stainless steel.  There is an elegant fruit component to this, with some berries.  I got a surprising touch of melon as well.  The wine is bone dry with high acidity that keeps it balanced and very food worthy.  It finishes long and is elegant and restrained.  Very well done. $28

2018 Chardonnay Heritage Reserve – the Heritage Reserve wines are crafted from the best grapes selected from several vineyards.  They are available in wine club or on premise.  This particular wine is made with all Carneros AVA fruit from three vineyards and was fermented in French oak barrels. The result is a light, golden yellow wine with luxurious fruit on the nose.  Apple and tropical aromas become similar flavors on the palate.  You get some oak, but no butter or heavy handed wood tones.  Honey and lemon accentuate the long finish.  This is very high quality and delicious juice. $52

2018 Pinot Noir Heritage Reserve – made in a ten barrel lot, this is always comprised of the best barrels from several Carneros growers.  It is aged for 16 months in French oak.  The color is a medium ruby, with aromas of cherry, berry, some floral and a touch of spice.  They follow through to the palate in a smooth but bright wine with excellent balance. Alcohol is 13.8%, and the wine stays fresh through the long finish.  Great fruit in this.  $56

2018 Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard – this wine has a deeper color than the Heritage Reserve, as well as richer aromas and flavors.  It is also aged for 16 months in French oak.  Black cherry plays off oak, bramble, a hint of tar and spice. It is medium+ in body, long and quite excellent.  This is a really nice bottle. $52

2013 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine is medium dark purple red.  It is not showing its age at all yet.  A classic nose is filled with berry fruit.  It is just full bodied and also has excellent balance.  This is not an opulent, in your face Cab but instead elegant and refined.  It has integrated beautifully in the bottle.  $82

All of the wines here at Schug Carneros have a European style, which is not surprising considering the family history.  The current winemaker is Johannes Scheid, who fittingly learned his trade in Germany.  Elegance and quality run through them all. This was a great way to start our wine country journey.  We purchased several of the wines and had them shipped back home to add to our cellar.

If you visit you’ll find a very comfortable tasting room with both inside and outside areas.  Their library room is an

ideal setting in the caves which were built to house the barrels while they age.   There are different tasting formats to choose from depending on your individual preference.  To complete your experience, if you choose the Cave Tour, you can savor the paired food courses, thoughtfully curated by Kristine.

You can visit Schug Carneros Estate at 602 Bonneau Road in Sonoma, CA, 95476.  More information is in their website at www.schugwinery.com.  Reservations are required.  Wine club members can save up to 20% off retail prices, which makes all of these good value options.

You can read the intro to our travels through Sonoma and Napa by clicking here.  The next stop on our trip is available here.

A votre sante!