09 Mar Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Lunch with Five Women of the Russian River Valley at World of Pinot Noir 2024

Women’s History Month, which takes place in March, is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. So, what better way to kick off the month than lunch with five women from the Russian River Valley at the 2024 World of Pinot Noir? As I sat down at my table of women, I knew how special that was. Out of 4200+ wineries in California, approximately 14% reported a woman as their lead winemaker in a 2020 study by Women Winemakers. In addition, female ownership or co-ownership represents at least 38% of California wineries. In Sonoma and the South Central Coast, the percentage of women winemakers and winery owners is highest, at around 17%. Having Lunch with Five Women of the Russian River Valley is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Alexia Pellegrini, General Manager, Pellegrini Wine Company

Alexia Pellegrini is the 4th generation in the Pellegrini family. She is the General Manager of Pellegrini-Olivet Lane which was started in 1925. The first winemaker at Pellegrini was Merry Edwards and today Alexis oversees all operations of the business, including as the vineyard manager.

Alexia shared the Pellegrini-Olivet Lane Vineyard 2021 White Pinot Noir. Originally Pinot Noir vinified white was used for sparkling wine but in 2020 they made their first still white Pinot Noir. The 2021 White Pinot Noir ($40) is vibrant with stone fruit and pineapple citrus aromas, bright acid, and a creamy texture.

Heidi Bridenhagen, Head Winemaker, MacRostie Winery & Vineyards

Heidi Bridenhagen became the winemaker at MacRostie in 2013 at the age of 29. A woman-led winery, Heidi is the third winemaker in the history of MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, established by Steve MacRostie in 1974.

Heidi shared the MacRostie 2021 Thales Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Sourced from the MacRostie estate vineyard, Thale, named after Steve MacRostie’s wife, is a 14 acre property in the northernmost part of the Russian River Valley. The wine is beautifully expressive with notes of cherry, cranberry, black tea, and flowers and bright acidity.

Yolanda Papapietro, Co-Owner, Papapietro Perry

Papapietro-Perry Winery was started in 1980 in the basement of the home of Yolanda and Ben Papapietro. In 1985, Bruce and Renae Perry joined them and Papapietro-Perry Winery was launched in 1988 with 75 cases of wine. Today they produce 8000 cases of wine and co-owner Yolanda manages the distributors relations. She is also one of the founders of National Women in Wine Day, established in 2021. The annual celebration takes place on March 25th to highlight stories of women in the wine industry.

Yolanda shared the Papapietro Perry 2021 Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($66), sourced from the Peters Vineyard, the same vineyard that was used for Papapietro-Perry’s first-ever vineyard designate. The wine is rich with red fruit and baking spice aromas and has a round mouthfeel.

Mari Jones, President (of Fun), Emeritus Vineyards

Emeritus Vineyards was founded in 1999 by Brice Cutrer Jones, who also founded Sonoma-Cutrer. At Emeritus, Brice focused on growing grapes to make Pinot Noir. Today Emeritus is run by Brice’s daughter, second-generation Mari Jones. Mari first discovered Pinot Noir on a trip to Burgundy with her father when she was 12 years old. After earning a philosophy degree at Colgate University and working at the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program in Colorado, Mari returned to Sonoma in 2012. Today she oversees all aspects of Emeritus Vineyards and works closely with Vineyard Manager Kirk Lokka and Winemaker Dave Lattin.

Mari poured the Emeritus Vineyards 2020 Wesley’s Reserve, Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir ($82). Hallberg Ranch, their 110-acre estate vineyard, is in the cool Green Valley region of the Russian River Valley. The 2020 Wesley’s Reserve, named after Mari’s grandfather, has notes of dark red and black fruits, forest floor, mushrooms, and earth, chewy tannins, and rich acidity.

Zidanelia Arcidiacono, Senior Winemaker, and Sam Parsa, Assistant Winemaker, Sonoma-Cutrer

Sonoma-Cutrer was founded in 1981 with a focus exclusively on Chardonnay and was one of the first wineries to embrace single varietal wines. Sonoma-Cutrer released its first Pinot Noir in 2002. And most importantly, today Sonoma-Cutrer is led by a female-driven team. Cara Morrison is the Director of Winemaking, Zidanelia Arcidiacono is the Senior Winemaker, and Sam Parsa is the Associate Winemaker. Zidanelia Arcidiacono, originally from Argentina, began as the first harvest enologist at Sonoma-Cutrer in 2007 and today focuses on making all of the the Pinot Noir. Sam Parsa was assistant winemaker in 2015 and returned in 2023.

Zidanelia and Sam shared the Sonoma-Cutrer 2019 Winemaker’s Release, Grand Brut Rose, Methode Traditionelle ($55), a cuvee of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wine has fragrant aromas with citrus, cherry, and fresh brioche bread notes and fresh acidity.

Lunch with five women from the Russian River Valley was a great way to kick off World of Pinot Noir, as well as to kick off Women’s History Month.