While Pedroncelli wines can be found on store shelves nationally it is still a little family run winery at heart.  The tasting room isn’t huge, the staff is friendly and happy to host you, and the wine selection and quality is excellent.  It has an old-time winery ambiance.  They source much of their fruit from local vineyards that have been in the extended family for generations.

Pedroncelli Winery in the Dry Creek Valley hills

We finished a nice bottle of  Pedroncelli 2007 Mother Clone Zin and after drinking a LOT of Zin at various events recently were surprised that we were surprised how good it is.   This and other Pedroncelli wines prove that boutique wineries are not necessarily better.

The wines tend to be on the higher end of mid-range between soft (1) and robust (10) scale.  We rate their wines from 4 to 7.  Most tasters should find something special for them with no wimpy wines and no big bombs.

Pedroncelli is a relatively old winery, started in 1927, and somehow survived Prohibition by selling grapes to home winemakers.  Now the fourth generation of family is working their way into the business.  Not many California wineries can boost that kind of longevity.

-  Jim