For a few years now, I have been a fan of wines produced by members of the Pisoni family who live in the Monterey area. Offerings from their Pisoni Estate wines, Lucia Vineyards wines, and Lucy Wines are exceptional and address the preferences of a variety of palates (and budgets). A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful Pisoni Family Vineyards located in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.
Mark Pisoni pouring Lucy wines at the Pisoni estate.
We’re all-in that this is a family,” stated Mark Pisoni, Vineyard Manager and Farmer, to a group of wine media and journalists gathered at Pisoni Family Vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA one morning. “Dad created this team. It’s old school and simple, it’s about sharing and family.” That dad is Gary Pisoni, one of the true pioneers in the California wine industry.
Over a glass of Pinot Noir with lunch, Gary said, “I had already planted the vines in Monterey County when others were just trying to figure out the area.” Gary’s parents, who settled the area in 1952, used the family property for cattle grazing. “Who knew back then that the land would become a world class spot to grow grapes?” added Mark. Jeff Pisoni, Winemaker, shared that “Dad loves wine. Back then, he didn’t really know what he was building.”
In 1982, Gary began the process of turning 40 acres of difficult terrain into vineyards, despite others’ shock and disbelief that he could actually accomplish such a feat! Rightly so, energetic Gary Pisoni is known as a maverick and anyone who has the finger on the pulse of the California wine industry knows the impact of Gary Pisoni and the family’s wines that receive consistent accolades from around the globe. Excerpt from my article, Pisoni Family Vineyards – Where a Sense of Connection to Family and Land is Always Present
There’s no question that the Pisoni family connects family and land to produce exceptional wines. But, they also have made the commitment to blend family, land, wines, and philanthropy. For each bottle sold from the Lucy label, one dollar is donated to a noble cause.
The Pisoni Family Donates One Dollar of Each Bottle of Lucy Pico Blanco Sold to Ocean Conservancy Efforts
Just recently, I was sent three new releases (as samples) of their Lucy label.
Lucy 2025 Pico Blanco ($26) is 70% Pinot Gris and 30% Pinot Blanc sourced from two areas within Monterey County: the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco. Because the Monterey climate is influenced by ocean breezes and cool fog from the Monterey Bay, the Santa Lucia Highlands embraces the strong winds. Soils are decomposed granite. Arroyo Seco feels the wines and fog, too, and its soil is of gravelly loam with layers of deposited limestone boulders from an ancient riverbed.
On the nose of this truly pleasurable wine, I found aromas of lemon, apricot, pineapple, yellow flowers, salinity and minerality. Bright acidity, herbal notes, and flavors of lemon and juicy pear were pure and mouthwatering. Balanced with a lingering finish, I craved each sip with shrimp tacos one evening.
One Dollar of Each Bottle of Lucy Rose of Pinot Noir Sold is Donated to Breast Cancer Research
A rose with depth is Lucy 2025 Rose of Pinot Noir ($24) from grapes cultivated in the Santa Lucia Highlands. I loved the flavors, vibrancy, and food pairing ability of this expressive rose. On both nose and palate, red berries, juicy strawberries, melon, rose petals, and minerality were lifted with striking acidity. Fresh and juicy, dry and elegant, tart and flavorful, this well-priced rose should be in your refrigerator at all times! We opened a chilled bottle for pairing with spicy enchiladas – just wow!
Photo Credit: Food52
The Pisoni Family Donates One Dollar of Each Bottle of Lucy Gamay Noir Sold to the Big Sur Fire Department
Gamay Noir originates in the Beaujolais region of France where it thrives on soils predominantly of granite. However, we can find Lucy 2025 Gamay Noir ($30) produced in the Santa Lucia Highland boasting similar soils: decomposed granite. As an homage to the wine production style of Beaujolais, this wine was fermented with 60% whole clusters in open-top tanks to create a semi-carbonic environment. After fermentation, the Gamay Noir was transferred to neutral French oak barrels for 8 months prior to bottling, unfined and unfiltered.
Aromas of purple florals, cranberries, baking spice, and pomegranate were a mesmerizing entry. Framed with soft tannic structure and just-right acidity, more red fruit such as cherries were luscious. I put a touch of chill on the wine which complemented dinner of roast chicken, fresh vegetables, and couscous.
Thank you, Pisoni family, for your expressive Lucy wines and heartfelt philanthropy.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
