Testa Vineyard Carignan
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 3–8 years of the vintage release, when its vibrant acidity and fresh fruit profiles are at their peak.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted pork, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom tart
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 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.