Perlegos Fernow Vineyard Nero d'Avola Mokelumne River 2021

It was never a question whether the Perlegos brothers would follow in their father’s footsteps as grape growers in the Lodi region of California.  From the young ages of seven and eight, Jeff and John helped in the vineyards with unusual childhood chores like pruning, thinning fruit, and picking grapes.  While vineyard maintenance was not their first choice (each preferred the cool, air-conditioned shelf-stocking at the family’s grocery store), they eventually developed penchants for working out in the vines over time.  As first-generation Americans, their parents instilled an immense appreciation of hard work and determination in them.  These traits would prove exceptionally useful when managing their family’s vineyards and starting their family brand, Perlegos. 

Jeff & John’s parents immigrated from Greece in the 1950s to Lodi, and its Mediterranean climate reminded them of home.  Before long, they purchased a tiny house on a 20-acre vineyard, and their father began farming grapes.  In the years since Jeff and John have taken the lead, the Perlegos family cemented their reputation in Lodi as detail-oriented and intuitive, utilizing quality-driven farming practices.  Stampede Vineyard in Clements is the most notable of their vineyard holdings, with its 100-year-old vines and under-the-radar following of small, artisanal producers.  The brothers note that it’s long been a dream to craft estate wines that exemplify the Mediterranean lifestyle their folks so profoundly cherished.  The inaugural release of Perlegos wines attempts to do just that with wines meant for enjoyment with friends, family, and food, highlighting varietals from their parent’s home country.

As trusted growers in their region, Jeff and John are tuned into and connected with Lodi’s other quality vineyard farmers.  One said relationship came in handy when Fernow Vineyard reached out in 2021 with an opportunity to purchase all the fruit from their one acre of Nero d’Avola.  Procuring these grapes was a no-brainer for Perlegos because the varietal is a native grape grown in Sicily and because of the vineyard’s commitment to organic farming practices and solar-powered property.

The inaugural 2021 Nero d’Avola fermented with indigenous yeast before being pressed and aged on the lees for ten months.  Next, the wine was racked into a combination of stainless steel and neutral French oak for an additional six months of aging.  Bottled unfined and unfiltered, Jeff and John crafted just 63 cases of this debut wine.  It has intensely floral aromas with hints of licorice spice, cherry cola, and cinnamon.  While the full body and textured palate are most impactful, a delightful acidity keeps the fruit flavors fresh, like ripe Bing cherries and muddled wild raspberry.  If you ask us, this wine pairs perfectly with a juicy cheeseburger, as the tannins meld with the meatiness, and the acidity zips right through the richness.  Again, these wines were made with immediate satisfaction in mind, so fire up that grill and get to popping the cork on this stand-out 2021 Perlegos Nero d’Avola.