Wayfarer Wine Tasting with Special Guest Cleo Pahlmeyer

"Now wines are wonders; great wines are magical; and winemakers are mad. Like horse fanciers, they are always trying to improve the breed."  - William E. Massee

They have been on a constant path of improvement at Wayfarer Winery and when Jayson Pahlmeyer started out in 1986, he had no winery and no vineyards but was determined to make one of California’s best wines and one that would stand up to the best of those made in Burgundy France and the rest of the world. 

I was happy to accept the Pahlmeyer family’s invitation to visit the Wayfarer Vineyard in August of 2013 and it worked out perfectly for me as I was already out on the west coast for the Washington State Wine Auction.  It was great to visit the Fort Ross Seaview appellation with one of the state’s best ocean side resorts Tamber Cove.  This place was a throwback in time, one of the most unique establishments that I have ever visited and the only place to have a group stay that is coming out to visit the vineyards here on the true Sonoma Coast.

The story of the Wayfarer Vineyards begins with Helen Turley as winemaker for Pahlmeyer in the early day she found this property for Jayson.  It was an organic farm one of the most northern vineyard m the Fort Ross Ava. They are in a warm spot in a cold area.  David Abreu planted the vineyard in 2002 and they are two ridge lines in from the ocean so to say the least extreme growing conditions.  In 2011 the Fort Ross AVA was approved all of which is above 900 foot elevation and is right on the ocean. 

The vineyard here is planted with a very tight density 6 x 3 as opposed to 8 x 10.  More concentrated fruit is the result.  It is 30 acres broken down to 30 blocks of 1 acre each.  They are on 3 main ridges they used three different root stocks because of the different flavor profiles because of the temperatures in the vineyards.  They have several different clones on the property and these are the first releases from this exciting new label from this extreme growing region.

Wayfarer is one of the most exciting new projects to come out in the world of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and I was glad to hear that Cleo Pahlmeyer was coming to visit us here in South Florida.  Join us as we welcome Cleo to South Florida for a special tasting of Wayfarer wines going back to the 2013 vintage.  The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $250 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

WAYFARER WINE TASTING WITH SPECIAL GUEST CLEO PAHLMEYER
Thursday, January 19, 2023
7:30 PM

2020 WAYFARER ROSE WF2 FORT ROSS SEAVIEW
2020 WAYFARER CHARDONNAY WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW SONOMA
2019 WAYFARER CHARDONNAY WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW SONOMA
2020 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR WF2 FORT ROSS SEA VIEW
2019 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW SONOMA
2019 WAYFARER MOTHER ROCK PINOT NOIR SONOMA
2019 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR GOLDEN MEAN FORT ROSS-SEAVIEW SONOMA
2019 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR THE TRAVELER FORT ROSS SEAVIEW
2014 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW MAGNUM
2013 WAYFARER PINOT NOIR WAYFARER VINEYARD FORT ROSS SEAVIEW MAGNUM

Menu
Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie
Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Toasted Pistachios and aged Balsamic
Sesame Seared Tuna served over Asian Soba Noodle Salad with Citrus Beurre Blanc
Deconstructed Pinot Noir Braised Beef Shortrib Bourguignon
Key Lime Tart

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $250 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.