Liana Estates

The Peju family are legends around Napa Valley. Over the last decade, over 25 of their wines have been rated 90+ points, with 15 winning gold or double gold medals. Their wines have not only been praised by Wine Spectator, but they’ve also been selected for Best of the Best, Best Buy, and Four Star Wine picks by QRW Magazine. Frankly, whenever we’re lucky enough to get some of their wines in the office, there’s always a fight over which of us get to be at the tasting.

Over the last few years the driving force behind Peju wines has been daughters Lisa and Ariana, the family’s second generation of winemakers. Trained in all aspects of the business by their parents, they’ve absorbed the family secrets and added their own unique vision towards carrying their family’s legacy into the future. Liana Estates, located in Carneros the region of Napa Valley, is part of that effort. The family’s second winery, led entirely by the daughters, comes out of a single-minded pursuit: “to produce distinct and extraordinary wines”.

Overlooking San Pablo Bay, Liana Estates is covered with thick morning fog and cool breezes rolling in off the ocean. The breezes make it difficult for certain varietals to grow large quantities of grapes on the vine, but this feature turns out to be a good thing: what this yield lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. The grapes that do mature are far more concentrated, and nutrient-dense, which produce wines of superlative flavor.

In the Liana Estates 2014 Vintner’s Red both the superb quality of the grapes and the incredible winemaking of the Peju sisters is on full display. With aromatics of blueberry and plum, on the palate, a different medley of fruit flavors presents itself: raspberry, accompanied by rich dark fruits of cherry and blackberry. Flavors of dark chocolate serve to round out this delicious, balanced red with a finish that will leave you satisfied down to the last drop.