Peju Winery

We are thrilled to announce that our 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded Best in Class at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Congratulations to our winemaking and production teams!

Classic Cabernet aromas of ripe dark cherry, raspberry and vanilla infuse the glass of this rich, ruby wine. Beautifully balanced and elegant on the palate our 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon features supple tannins complemented by flavors of juicy forest berries, California almonds and molasses. With a round, velvety finish this wine is delicious now and will continue to mature for the next 5- 7 years.

The love of farming and a passion for wine brought Tony Peju to the Napa Valley. A series of ideas - starting in his birthplace on the Caspian Sea, then France, England and eventually, Los Angeles -- created the Peju's Napa Valley winery. In 1982, Tony and his wife Herta purchased 30 acres of land in the Napa Valley with the magic ingredient - location. Neighboring vineyards in Rutherford included Robert Mondavi, Inglenook and Beaulieu. Situated between Highway 29 and the Napa River, the acreage included a 1900-era house and rambling vineyards, some 60 or more years old. Looking to the future, Tony and Herta have introduced their two daughters, Lisa and Ariana, to the workings of the wine business. Both of the young women are immersing themselves in all aspects of Peju Winery.

As the reputation of Peju and the winery’s location on Highway 29 proved to be good for business, demand soon exceeded supply. By 1995, Tony Peju was buying Cabernet Franc grapes from Juliana Vineyards in nearby Pope Valley. He liked the grapes and subsequently bought Merlot and Chardonnay as well.  "In 1996 a friend came to me with an offer to plant grapes on a Pope Valley property,” he recounts. “When I visited the intended site I saw a for sale sign on a property nearby, I learned that in fact there were two contiguous properties for sale and as it turned out I was able to acquire them both.” 

There are now two generations of the Peju family working in the winery: Tony and Herta who started the winery in 1982 and now their daughters, Lisa and Ariana, have joined the winery team. The entire family is deeply committed to sustainable farming practices to ensure that the land, that produces award-winning wines, will be preserved for future generations.

In September, 2007, Peju earned Organic Certification for its Rutherford Estate Vineyard from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Peju has been moving towards organic farming practices in all three of its Napa Valley vineyards which include the H.B. Vineyard in Rutherford, the Persephone Vineyard in Pope Valley and the Wappo Vineyard in Dutch Henry Canyon. Currently, the Persephone and Wappo Vineyards practice sustainable farming, with organic certification goals set within the next three years pending regulatory approval.