Peter Michael Winery

Sir Peter Michael, a British technology entrepreneur who built Quantel (broadcast video technology) and Cosworth Electronics into international successes, purchased the 600-acre Knights Valley property in 1982 with a vision of establishing a California estate winery modeled on the great chateaux of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The first commercial vintage was 1987, focusing on Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay; Les Pavots Bordeaux blend followed 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 facility was constructed on the lower slopes of the property, with the vineyard planted up to 2,000 feet of elevation on the steep western slopes of Mount Saint Helena. Sir Peter passed away in May 2021; the winery remains family-owned and continues to operate under his original vision.

• Sir Peter Michael purchased the 600-acre Knights Valley property in 1982 with a vision modeled on great Bordeaux and Burgundy estates
• First commercial vintage was 1987 focusing on Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay; Les Pavots Bordeaux blend debuted with the 1989 vintage
• Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989 for services to the British electronics and television industries through Quantel and Cosworth Electronics
• Sir Peter passed away May 2021; the winery remains family-owned and continues operating under his original founding vision

The Peter Michael estate vineyard covers 144 planted acres on the western slopes of Mount Saint Helena, the towering 4,343-foot volcanic peak that dominates the eastern boundary of Knights Valley AVA. Vineyards sit between 1,000 and 2,000 feet of elevation, with the highest blocks well above the typical Pacific fog inversion line. Soils are dominated by volcanic rhyolitic ash and clay-loam profiles derived from Mount Saint Helena's ancient eruptions, providing excellent drainage and a distinctive mineral character that producers and critics describe as 'moon dust.' The Mt. Carmel vineyard, planted at the highest elevation portion of the property, is the most famous single block and produces the flagship single-vineyard Chardonnay. The estate is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Pinot Noir, all selected to match specific aspects, elevations, and soil types across the property.

• 144 planted acres on the western slopes of Mount Saint Helena, between 1,000 and 2,000 feet of elevation
• Volcanic rhyolitic ash and clay-loam soils from Mount Saint Helena's ancient eruptions provide excellent drainage and distinctive mineral character
• Mt. Carmel vineyard at the highest elevation portion produces the flagship single-vineyard Chardonnay bottling
• Planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Pinot Noir across specific aspects and elevations

Peter Michael produces a small range of single-vineyard wines, each from named blocks across the estate. The Sauvignon Blanc bottlings (L'Aprés-Midi, Le Caprice, La Carriere) are barrel-fermented in French oak and showcase the variety's textural and mineral potential at a level few California producers achieve. Chardonnay bottlings include Belle Côte, Mon Plaisir, La Carriere, Cuvee Indigene, and the flagship Mt. Carmel, all produced from named hillside blocks and barrel-fermented in predominantly new French oak. Les Pavots, the flagship Bordeaux blend, is built primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon supplemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, aged in new French oak for approximately 22 months. The Au Paradis bottling is a 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from estate fruit, while 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.

• Sauvignon Blanc bottlings (L'Aprés-Midi, Le Caprice, La Carriere): barrel-fermented in French oak, showcasing textural and mineral potential rarely achieved in California Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay flagship Mt. Carmel sits among California's most sought-after Chardonnay bottlings; also produces Belle Côte, Mon Plaisir, La Carriere, and Cuvee Indigene
• Les Pavots Bordeaux blend (debuted 1989 vintage): primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, aged ~22 months in new French oak
• Au Paradis: 100% 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 succession of celebrated winemakers. Helen Turley served as consulting winemaker from the early 1990s through 1995, establishing the house style of single-vineyard, barrel-fermented Chardonnay and structured Bordeaux blend wines. Mark Aubert (who later founded Aubert Wines) trained under Helen Turley at Peter Michael before launching his own label. Luc Morlet, a Burgundy-trained winemaker, served as winemaker from 1995 to 2005 and shaped the modern Chardonnay program. Robert Fiore joined as assistant winemaker in 1997 and became Director of Winemaking in 2005, building on the established house style while introducing his own refinements to vineyard management and cellar techniques. The winery's commitment to estate-grown fruit, single-vineyard bottlings, and meticulous attention to detail has remained consistent across all winemaking transitions.

• Helen Turley: consulting winemaker through 1995; established the house style of barrel-fermented single-vineyard Chardonnay and structured Bordeaux blends
• Mark Aubert: trained at Peter Michael under Helen Turley before founding Aubert Wines
• Luc Morlet: Burgundy-trained winemaker, 1995 to 2005; shaped the modern Chardonnay program with sophisticated barrel-fermentation techniques
• Robert Fiore: assistant winemaker from 1997, Director of Winemaking since 2005; continues estate-grown single-vineyard philosophy with refinements to vineyard and cellar

Peter Michael Winery has received consistent critical acclaim since its earliest vintages. Les Pavots has scored 95 to 100 points across multiple vintages from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and other major publications, establishing it as one of California's benchmark Bordeaux blends. The Mt. Carmel Chardonnay has received perfect 100-point scores from multiple critics across multiple vintages, including from Wine Advocate. The L'Aprés-Midi Sauvignon Blanc has been described by critics as the benchmark for California Sauvignon Blanc, 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 Mt. Carmel routinely sell at auction for multiples of their original release prices.

• Les Pavots scored 95 to 100 points across multiple vintages from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and other major publications
• Mt. Carmel Chardonnay has received perfect 100-point scores from multiple critics across multiple vintages
• L'Aprés-Midi Sauvignon Blanc widely cited by critics as the benchmark for California Sauvignon Blanc, capable of cellaring for a decade or more
• Allocation mailing list closed for extended periods; current and library Les Pavots and Mt. Carmel routinely sell at auction for multiples of release price

Peter Michael Winery is one of only two estates in Knights Valley AVA open to visitors, alongside Knights Bridge Winery. Tastings are by appointment only and offer comprehensive experiences combining a vineyard tour, cellar visit, and seated tasting of current and library releases. The winery's location on the western slopes of Mount Saint Helena, accessed via winding mountain roads from Highway 128 between Calistoga and Healdsburg, provides spectacular views of the surrounding Mayacamas Mountains and the upper Knights Valley. The tasting experience emphasizes the estate's terroir-driven approach, with detailed explanation of the single-vineyard sites and the winemaking decisions that distinguish each bottling. The winery does not operate a retail tasting room outside of the estate; all hospitality experiences require advance booking.

• One of only two estates in Knights Valley AVA open to visitors (alongside Knights Bridge Winery); appointment only
• Tasting experiences combine vineyard tour, cellar visit, and seated tasting of current and library releases
• Located on the western slopes of Mount Saint Helena via Highway 128 between Calistoga and Healdsburg; spectacular Mayacamas Mountain views
• No retail tasting room outside the estate; all hospitality requires advance booking through the winery's website