Mission Somers Vineyard
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed young and fresh, within 1–4 years of vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Charcuterie boards, roasted pork, grilled salmon
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Pax's expression of Mission from the historic Somers Vineyard in Lodi is a vibrant tribute to California's viticultural roots. The Mission grape, originally known as Listán Prieto, was brought to the Americas by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century and established California's very first vineyards. Sourced from the Somers Vineyard, where old vines thrive in the fine, sandy soils along the Mokelumne River, winemaker Pax Mahle revives this heritage variety using minimalist, low-intervention techniques. By employing whole-cluster fermentation and aging in neutral oak, Pax coaxes out a light-bodied, pale red that is remarkably fresh, earthy, and aromatic, transforming a historic grape once dismissed for bulk production into a celebrated, terroir-driven modern classic.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2000 by Pax and Pamela Mahle, Pax is a pioneering Sonoma County winery celebrated for redefining California Syrah through a lens of elegance and restraint. Based in Sebastopol, California, the winery sources fruit from cool-climate, coastal-influenced vineyards across Sonoma and Mendocino counties, such as the acclaimed Alder Springs and Castelli Knight Ranch. Pax's winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention, employing whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and aging in concrete vats and neutral French oak to highlight pure terroir. The estate is highly renowned for its savory, structurally complex Syrahs, alongside vibrant, terroir-driven expressions of Gamay, Chenin Blanc, and Mondeuse.