Paraiso Vineyards

2007 - "Estate" Riesling

• * Style: Dry
• * Type: Table
• * Region: California

Drawn from the Highland’s original plantings from over thrity-five years ago, we have purposely fashioned this wine in a drier style to express classic Riesling character: ripe flavors of pear and apricot, a touch of spice and mineral, all backed by crisp food-pairing acidity.

The Santa Lucia Highlands tower above the Monterey Coast.  Here, many famous names have their vineyards perched on the region’s elevated terraces – Morgan, Gary’s, Pisoni, Talbott, Mer Soleil.  We are proud to be among them as the oldest artisan estate, first in the Highlands.  For over thirty-five years now, we, the Smith family, have lived and worked on the rugged four hundred acre Paraiso estate, developing a reputation throughout the Central Coast as leaders and innovators.  Taking great care and pride in our role as stewards of the land, we have helped develop the philosophy and protocols of “sustainable viticulture,” and are among the first to be officially SIP Certified.

Our method of winemaking is simple: to let the true character of the estate’s fruit shine through in every bottle.  This is done with creative quality control at every step of the winemaking process made possible with small lot, traditional fermentations in our new state-of-the-art winery.

The forty acres of Riesling vines on the estate are the oldest plantings in the Highlands, planted in 1973.  Their age and the “stressed” nature of the Block provides exceptional concentration and varietal character.  Crafted in a drier style, Paraiso’s Riesling is a serious food wine; the balanced fruit and acidity will prove the perfect foil to any dish displaying a lick of spicy heat.  Cheers!