Testa Vineyard Carignan
⏳ Drinking Window
2005 - 2010
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted pork, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom tart
✨ Technical Specifications
The Testa Vineyard, located in the Calpella area of Mendocino County, is a historic gem of California viticulture, originally cleared and planted in 1912 by Italian immigrants Gaetano and Maria Testa. Today, the fifth generation of the family still farms these historic soils. Pax Mahle crafts this Carignan from the vineyard's dry-farmed, head-trained old vines, which dig deep into the gravelly loam soils. Embracing a minimalist winemaking philosophy, Pax utilizes whole-cluster fermentation and neutral French oak aging to preserve the vibrant, heritage-driven character of the fruit. The resulting wine is a beautiful homage to California's early winemaking history, showcasing a perfect balance of bright, wild berry fruit, rustic earthiness, and savory complexity.
🍾 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
Carignan