Mission Somers Vineyard
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2010
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Charcuterie boards, roasted pork, grilled salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
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.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2000 by Pax and Pam Mahle, Pax Wines is an acclaimed artisanal producer based in Sebastopol within Sonoma County, California. Recognized as a pioneer of the New California wine movement, the winery focuses on cool-climate coastal terroirs across Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Pax champions a minimalist, old-world approach to vinification, utilizing whole-cluster fermentation, indigenous yeasts, and aging in neutral French oak and concrete tanks to preserve purity and freshness. The estate is widely celebrated for its benchmark, savory Syrah bottlings—such as the Sonoma-Hillsides and Alder Springs Vineyard designations—as well as dynamic, terroir-driven expressions of Gamay, Chenin Blanc, and heritage varieties.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Mission
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
12%