Deep copper-amber color; peach, melon-cantaloupe, green tea, vermouth on the nose and palate.
Dry; mild tannins, good acidity (3.44 pH). Medium body. This is white wine made like a red wine with skin contact. Other names are “amber” wine and “orange” wine, although many makers wince or take umbrage at the orange moniker. In fact, Kivelstadt once labeled this effort as “orange” wine, but shifted to “skin fermented.” To be clear, such wines are not made with oranges and do not taste like oranges. 11.65% ABV
This is not your flighty friend’s pinot grigio. There is a slight bitterness from skin contact, but this contributes to a heft and depth you do not expect from a pinot grigio/pinot gris. This makes it especially suitable for pairing with dishes that have complex, bold flavors.
Pinot grigio grapes were destemmed and macerated and fermented on the skins for 13 days in a closed-top fermenter using native yeasts prior to pressing. Once pressed, the wine completed primary and malolactic fermentation in neutral French oak and spent five months on the lees for depth and smoothness. Bottled without fining.
Jordan Kivelstadt founded Kivelstadt Cellars in 2007 when he made 125 cases of syrah from his family’s estate in the Bennett Valley. The website notes: “ordan has spent more than 15 years making wine around the world, to help define Kivelstadt’s mission. He shares the same mission of respecting the land and viticulture that carries through in our winemaking practices.”
Grapes come from the family’s historic, organic vineyards as well as partner growers throughout California. Winemaker Luke Nio is a Sonoma County lad and a UC-Davis grad in viticulture & enology. He worked at wineries around the world before returning to Kivelstadt Cellars.
Kivelstadt Cellars Wayward Son Skin Fermented Pinot Grigio, Pintail Ranch Vineyard, Clarksburg, Sonoma 2022 is tasty, serious skin fermented/amber/orange wine made with pinot grigio. More substantial than any other pinot grigio you likely have sipped, this demonstrates what can be wrought when white wine is made using red wine techniques. Heft and depth of a parade of engaging flavors. Pair with pork; spicy food; Asian cuisine; lobster bisque; pasta or polenta with creamy sauces with mushroom; grilled mushrooms; cured meats. Cheese—goat cheeses; mozzarella, feta, provolone, mild cheddar, brie. $25-32