Nepenthe
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken with herbs, pan-seared scallops, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the rugged, high-altitude Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino County, Pax's 'Nepenthe' is a legendary, historic white blend from the winery's early, pioneering years. Named after the mythical Greek potion of forgetfulness that banishes all sorrow, Nepenthe was crafted to be a transportive, deeply complex white wine. Typically composed of Rhône varieties like Roussanne and Viognier, sometimes rounded out with Chardonnay, this cuvée showcases the extreme terroir of Alder Springs—where steep slopes, decomposed sandstone soils, and cool coastal breezes yield fruit of intense concentration and vibrant acidity. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in neutral French oak, Nepenthe is celebrated for its exotic aromatics, rich texture, and striking mineral backbone, representing a bold departure from standard California white wines of its era.
🍾 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
100% Chardonnay