Vineyards
& Viticulture

Our viticulture philosophy is based on low-input sustainable agriculture (LISA), using hand-farming techniques that include organic and biodynamic practices. With an unwavering respect for the unique terroir of this place, Javier Aviña has managed the vineyards at Peter Michael Winery since 1991, using minimally invasive methods that steward and protect the soil, water, and wildlife of this extraordinary piece of land.

Estate vineyards
  • Knights Valley Estate, Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County 149 acres planted to red and white Bordeaux varietals & Chardonnay
  • Seaview Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, Sonoma County 26 acres planted to Pinot Noir
  • Au Paradis Vineyard, Oakville AVA, Napa Valley 26 acres planted to red Bordeaux varietals
Sourced vineyard
  • Pisoni Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey County 4. 5 acres planted to Pinot Noir

Ma Belle-Fille Vineyard

Knights Valley, Sonoma County
14 acres
Chardonnay
Ma Belle-Fille Vineyard

Translated from the French: my daughter-in-law

Appellation

  • Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County

Planted

  • 1999

Chardonnay clonal selections

  • Calera
  • Mount Eden
  • Hudson
  • Hyde

Elevation

  • 1,700–1,900 feet

Soil

  • Rocky volcanic-origin Rhyolite

Exposure

  • South - southeast

Notes

  • Highest vineyard, full exposure, marine influence, earliest ripening Chardonnay fruit.

Wines produced from the
Ma Belle-Fille Vineyard

Ma Belle-Fille

Estate Chardonnay

Belle Côte Vineyard

Knights Valley, Sonoma County
15.5 acres
Chardonnay
Belle Côte Vineyard

Translated from the French: beautiful slope

Appellation

  • Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County

Planted

  • 1990

Chardonnay clonal selections

  • See
  • Old Wente
  • Rued

Elevation

  • 1,700–1,800 feet

Soil

  • Rocky volcanic-origin Rhyolite

Exposure

  • East

Notes

  • Thicker soils; cooler via elevation, easterly exposure and trees on western border, slow ripening, longer growing season.

Wines produced from the
Belle Côte Vineyard

Belle Côte

Estate Chardonnay

Mon Plaisir Vineyard

Knights Valley, Sonoma County
7 acres
Chardonnay
Mon Plaisir Vineyard

Translated from the French: my pleasure

Appellation

  • Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County

Planted

  • 1999

Chardonnay clonal selection

  • Old Wente

Elevation

  • 1,700–1,800 feet

Soil

  • Rocky volcanic-origin Rhyolite

Exposure

  • Southeast

Notes

  • Thick soils, full sun, low yields.

Wines produced from the
Mon Plaisir Vineyard

Mon Plaisir

Estate Chardonnay

La Carrière Vineyard

Knights Valley, Sonoma County
17 acres
Chardonnay
La Carrière Vineyard

Translated from the French: the quarry

Appellation

  • Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County

Planted

  • 1994

Chardonnay clonal selections

  • See
  • Dijon
  • Hyde

Elevation

  • 1,200–1,700 feet

Soil

  • Rocky, volcanic-origin Rhyolite

Exposure

  • South - southeast

Notes

  • Tremendously rocky/shallow soils, 40% +slope, ideal exposure, excellent drainage, low fertility leading to low yields and grapes with concentrated flavor.

Wines produced from the
La Carrière Vineyard

La Carrière

Estate Chardonnay

Seaview Estate

Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma County
26 acres
Pinot Noir
Seaview Estate

Appellation

  • Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, Sonoma County

Planted

  • 2006
  • 100% Pinot Noir

Elevation

  • 1,000–1,500 feet

Soil

  • Rocky alluvial sediments, decomposing volcanic material, clay

Exposure

  • East and northeast

Notes

  • Located on the first ridgeline from the coast; bordered on the east by the Gualala River.

Wines produced from the
Seaview Estate

Le Caprice

Estate Pinot Noir

Ma Danseuse

Estate Pinot Noir

Clos du Ciel

Estate Pinot Noir

Les Pavots Vineyard

Knights Valley, Sonoma County
64 acres
Red & white Bordeaux varietals
Les Pavots Vineyard

Translated from the French: the poppies

Appellation

  • Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County

Planted

  • 1989–1999
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Merlot
  • Petit Verdot
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon

Elevation

  • 900–1,400 feet

Soil

  • Rocky volcanic-origin Rhyolite

Exposure

  • Southerly

Notes

  • Rocky, perfectly drained soil couples with an ideal south-facing exposure and just enough heat to allow Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals to ripen perfectly.

Wines produced from the
Les Pavots Vineyard

Les Pavots

Estate Cabernet Blend

Varietals

  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot & Petit Verdot

Estate

Coeur à Coeur

Estate Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon

Varietals

  • Sauvignon Blanc & Sémillon

Pisoni Vineyard

Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
4.5 acre portion of Pisoni Vineyards
Pinot Noir
Pisoni Vineyard

Appellation

  • Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County

Planted

  • 1991
  • 100% Vosne-Romanée

Elevation

  • 1,300 feet

Soil

  • Decomposed granite

Exposure

  • East and northeast

Notes

  • Undulating east-facing slopes with a cool maritime influence, specific vineyard blocks farmed to our specifications.

Wines produced from the
Pisoni Vineyard

Le Moulin Rouge

Estate Pinot Noir

Le Chapeau Blanc Vineyard

Oakville, Napa Valley
26 acres
Red Bordeaux varietals
Le Chapeau Blanc Vineyard

Translated from the French: the white hat

Appellation

  • Oakville AVA, Napa Valley

Planted

  • 1993
  • Cabernet Franc

Elevation

  • 500 feet

Soil

  • Rocky red Boomer loam, weathered from volcanic rock, clay, silt, and sand

Exposure

  • South and southwest

Notes

  • Located on a bench between the valley floor and famed Pritchard Hill

Wines produced from the
Le Chapeau Blanc Vineyard

Le Chapeau Blanc

Estate Cabernet Blend

Au Paradis Vineyard

Oakville, Napa Valley
26 acres
Red Bordeaux varietals
Au Paradis Vineyard

Translated from the French: in Paradise or in heaven

Appellation

  • Oakville AVA, Napa Valley

Planted

  • 1984 and 2007
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Merlot

Elevation

  • 500–600 feet

Soil

  • Rocky red Boomer loam, weathered from volcanic rock, clay, silt, and sand

Exposure

  • South and southwest

Notes

  • Wonderful red Aiken soils of Oakville, ideal exposure

Wines produced from the
Au Paradis Vineyard

Au Paradis

Estate Cabernet Blend

San Francisco
City of Napa
Calistoga
Healdsburg
Santa Rosa