Peter Michael Winery

Sir Peter Michael, a British technology entrepreneur who built Quantel (broadcast video technology) and Cosworth Engineering into international successes, purchased the former Sugar Loaf Ranch in Knights Valley in 1982. The original property was just over 600 acres; the estate has since grown to nearly 750 acres through subsequent land additions. The first commercial vintage was the 1987 Mon Plaisir Chardonnay, made at a custom crush facility while the on-site winery was still being built. The winery building was completed in 1989, the only winery in Knights Valley, and Les Pavots Bordeaux blend debuted with the 1989 vintage. Sir Peter was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989 for services to the British electronics and television industries. The winery remains family-owned and is now led by the second generation, Sir Peter's son Paul Michael and his wife Emily, who continue the founding vision.

• Sir Peter Michael purchased the former Sugar Loaf Ranch (just over 600 acres) in Knights Valley in 1982; the estate has since grown to nearly 750 acres
• First commercial vintage was 1987 (Mon Plaisir Chardonnay); the on-site winery was completed in 1989, the only winery in Knights Valley
• Les Pavots Bordeaux blend debuted with the 1989 vintage; named for the wild poppies that grow on the estate
• Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989 for services to British electronics and television industries; the winery is family-owned, now led by the second generation, Sir Peter's son Paul Michael and his wife Emily

The Peter Michael estate vineyard covers approximately 149 planted acres on the western slopes of Mount Saint Helena, the 4,343-foot volcanic peak that dominates the eastern boundary of Knights Valley AVA. Vineyards sit between 900 and 1,900 feet of elevation, with the highest blocks well above the typical Pacific fog inversion line. Soils across the estate are dominated by rocky volcanic rhyolite, derived from Mount Saint Helena's ancient eruptions, providing excellent drainage and a distinctive mineral character. Chardonnay is bottled as six named single-vineyard wines (La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, Mon Plaisir, Point Rouge, and Cuvée Indigène), each drawn from specific aspects, elevations, and soil profiles, with Point Rouge and Cuvée Indigène blended from multiple estate blocks. The Les Pavots block carries the Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot) along with some white-variety plantings used in the L'Esprit des Pavots program. Sauvignon Blanc and small acreage of Pinot Noir round out the variety mix.

• About 149 planted acres on the western slopes of Mount Saint Helena, between 900 and 1,900 feet of elevation
• Rocky volcanic rhyolite soils from Mount Saint Helena's ancient eruptions provide excellent drainage and distinctive mineral character
• Six named single-vineyard Chardonnay bottlings: La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, Mon Plaisir, Point Rouge, and Cuvée Indigène
• Les Pavots block carries Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot; Sauvignon Blanc and small Pinot Noir plantings complete the variety mix

Peter Michael produces a small range of single-vineyard wines, each from named blocks across the estate. The estate Sauvignon Blanc, L'Après-Midi, is barrel-fermented in French oak and showcases the variety's textural and mineral potential at a level few California producers achieve. Le Caprice is one of the estate's three Pinot Noirs, grown on the Seaview Estate in the West Sonoma Coast alongside Ma Danseuse and Clos du Ciel. Chardonnay bottlings include single-vineyard expressions from each of the six named blocks: La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, Mon Plaisir, Point Rouge, and Cuvée Indigène, all barrel-fermented in predominantly new French oak. Les Pavots, the flagship Bordeaux blend, is built primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon supplemented by Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, aged in French oak for roughly two years. Au Paradis is a single-variety Cabernet Sauvignon from estate fruit, and L'Esprit des Pavots serves as the second wine of the Les Pavots program. The style across the range emphasizes structure, mineral concentration, and aging potential rather than soft plush approachability.

• Estate Sauvignon Blanc (L'Après-Midi): barrel-fermented in French oak, showcasing the variety's textural and mineral potential at a level few California producers achieve; Le Caprice is an estate Pinot Noir from the West Sonoma Coast
• Six single-vineyard Chardonnay bottlings: La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, Mon Plaisir, Point Rouge, and Cuvée Indigène
• Les Pavots Bordeaux blend (debuted 1989 vintage): primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, aged roughly two years in French oak
• Au Paradis: single-variety Cabernet Sauvignon; L'Esprit des Pavots: second wine of the Les Pavots program at more accessible pricing

Peter Michael Winery has been shaped by a deep succession of celebrated winemakers. Helen Turley made the inaugural 1987 Mon Plaisir Chardonnay at a custom crush facility and departed in 1989, just as the on-site winery came online. Mark Aubert took the head winemaker role in 1990 and led the program through 1999 before founding Aubert Wines. Vanessa Wong joined as assistant winemaker in 1996 and stepped into the head role after Aubert's departure in 1999, leaving in 2001 to help establish Peay Vineyards. Luc Morlet, the Burgundy-trained brother of Nicolas, served as full-time winemaker for the 2001 through 2005 vintages and transitioned to a consulting role in 2006 to launch Morlet Family Vineyards with his wife Jodie. Nicolas Morlet took over from his brother in December 2005 and led the cellar for fifteen vintages through 2020. Robert Fiore, recruited from Tim Mondavi's Continuum in Napa where he had worked since 2016, became winemaker in March 2020 and continues in that role today. Fiore brings a background in geophysics along with a UC Davis master's degree in Viticulture and Enology earned in 2001.

• Helen Turley: 1987 to 1989, made the inaugural Mon Plaisir Chardonnay at a custom crush facility before the on-site winery was completed
• Mark Aubert: 1990 to 1999, established the modern house style before founding Aubert Wines; Vanessa Wong served as assistant from 1996 and head winemaker 1999 to 2001 before joining Peay
• Luc Morlet: full-time 2001 to 2005 (consulting through 2006), then founded Morlet Family Vineyards; brother Nicolas Morlet took over as winemaker in December 2005 and served through 2020
• Robert Fiore: winemaker since March 2020, recruited from Tim Mondavi's Continuum in Napa; UC Davis viticulture and enology master's (2001) and a background in geophysics

Peter Michael Winery has received consistent critical acclaim since its earliest vintages. Les Pavots ranks consistently among the highest-rated California Bordeaux blends, with multiple scores in the high 90s and occasional 100-point ratings from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and other major publications. The single-vineyard Chardonnay bottlings are similarly highly rated, with scores in the high 90s and occasional perfect ratings. The L'Après-Midi Sauvignon Blanc is regarded as one of California's most acclaimed barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blancs, capable of cellaring for a decade or more. The winery's allocation mailing list has been closed for periods over the years and remains highly sought-after; current and library vintages of Les Pavots and the named single-vineyard Chardonnay bottlings routinely sell at auction for multiples of their original release prices.

• Les Pavots ranks consistently among the highest-rated California Bordeaux blends, with multiple high-90s scores and occasional 100-point ratings from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and other major publications
• Single-vineyard Chardonnay bottlings are similarly highly rated, with scores in the high 90s and occasional perfect 100-point ratings
• L'Après-Midi Sauvignon Blanc widely cited as one of California's most acclaimed barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blancs, capable of cellaring for a decade or more
• Allocation mailing list closed for extended periods; current and library wines routinely sell at auction for multiples of release price