Winemaker Notes
Founder Walter Schug was born and raised on a winemaking estate in Germany, but his impact on the California wine industry has been legendary. As a founding winemaker for Joseph Phelps Vineyards, he helped bring international fame to the region's Cabernet Sauvignons. Eventually Walter and Gertrud moved to Sonoma to build their own winery. Since the birth of their very first wine, a strong legacy has developed that is now being passed on to future generations. This lot is a special release for the 40th anniversary of Schug Carneros Estate Winery.
Their relationship with the Sangiacomo family goes back to the 1970s, and they honor that legacy by crafting a limited release that exemplifies the quality farming of the Sangiacomos. El Novillero Vineyard shares its border with the Schug Estate and is situatedon the hillside slopes that form the southwest boundary of the Sonoma Valley. Morning fog is replaced in the afternoon by cooling ocean winds, allowing for a long ripening season.
This wine is fermented in French oak barrels with native yeast, with the objective being a long, slow fermentation and enhancing more elegant tannins. Aromas include raspberry and cranberry, along with orange peel, followed by a mineral earthy character. On the palate, this wine is structurally balanced and elegant with exceptional acidity
Schug Winery was founded in 1980 with unwavering dedication to Pinot Noir excellence—a specialization that spans 45 years and sets them apart from generalist wineries. Walter Schug, the legendary winemaker who created Joseph Phelps' iconic Insignia, established his legacy in Carneros, where low-intervention Old World winemaking meets California terroir.
Today, 5th-generation German winemaker Johannes Scheid continues this authentic heritage with wines that consistently score 90+ points across their entire portfolio. Johannes trained at Walter's alma mater in Germany, bringing multi-generational European winemaking expertise to their sustainable California practices.
What makes Schug exceptional is their genuine commitment to specialization and authenticity. While others spread their focus across multiple varietals, they've perfected their craft with nearly half a century devoted to exceptional Pinot Noir. This deep expertise, combined with their European winemaking tradition and compelling value proposition, has driven their national expansion and established Schug as a trusted name among wine enthusiasts who appreciate both heritage and quality.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.