Jon Priest of Etude Wines
Tell us about the sustainable and eco-friendly practices at the vineyard: Etude was created in 1982 with the goal of making world-class Pinot Noir in the cooler-climate Carneros region, which put the focus on the quality and health of the vineyards from the beginning. Senior winemaker and general manager Priest joined the estate in 2005, and as a native of the Central Coast, his philosophy is to spend the most time in the vineyards and express that care through a gentle hand in the winemaking process.
In Etude’s focus on the vineyards, it has achieved third-party certifications with Napa Green Winery and Vineyard, California Sustainable Winegrowing and Fish Friendly Farming. Land conservation and preservation of wildlife habitats has been at the core of Etude’s vineyard development. At Grace Benoist Ranch, 12 miles of wildlife corridors and naturally occurring wetlands have been in place since the ranch was developed in the early 2000’s. Through this process, Etude maintained native flora including oaks, bay laurels, chamomile and sun cups that are biodiversity hotspots. The wildlife corridors have also maintained wild turkeys and allowed natural predators like mountain lions and coyotes to access shade, water and shelter without entering the vineyard. This keeps the rodent population in check and maintains a biodiverse ecosystem.
Tell us about the varietals you make: Cool-climate Pinot Noir has been a focus of Etude since its inception, and today the estate works across five different growing regions to highlight the effects terroir has on this world-class variety. The Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Pinot Noir is a benchmark of the Etude portfolio and offers a reflection of this unique site. The Estate Pinot Gris thrives in the cooler Carneros vineyards and gives a classic profile of citrus, stone fruits and tropical fruits with a balanced richness and brightness.
What are a few wines that readers should try right now?
2019 Etude Estate Pinot Gris, Carneros
2019 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Estate Carneros Pinot Noir