Collection: Wayfarer

The birth of Wayfarer wines only takes us back to 2012, and the younger age of the winery is, in a way, emblematic of the project. Youth, vigour, passion, life.

It was founded by Cleo Pahlmeyer, daughter of Jayson Pahlmeyer whose eponymous estate was what he called the 'Californian Mouton'; and where the father channels Bordeaux, the daughter challenges Burgundy — wanting to utilise the cooler climate of the Sonoma Coast to harness the finesse and poise of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay over in the US, but to do so whilst breaking away from imitation. It is true, however, that when this site was discovered by the great Helen Turley, whose Marcassin vineyard is just down the road, she exclaimed that it would very soon be 'the La Tâche of California'.

Whilst by no means the first to attempt a Burgundian sister in Sonoma, (Marcassin, Aubert, Raen, Kistler, Peter Michael, J Vineyards, Platt Vineyard, etc.), they are, certainly, one of the most distinct. Where many seemed more in-debted to Burgundy, Wayfarer seems in-spired; they use Burgundy as a reference, not an anchor.

With but a precious 30 acres under vine (all of which is certified organic), Wayfarer are dedicated to precision, to passion, and to the authenticity of expression, with each parcel being analysed and thereafter reserved for one of their 16 specific clones. Each year, they harvest the parcels individually, at just the right time, and meticulously sort the fruit for production. 

The result are a small(ish) family of wines, each with a distinct mission in mind. Their product range is not artificially bolstered into diversity, but instead each wine has a concrete purpose. The Estate showcases a broader representation of both their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, across their entire vineyard, perfectly encapsulating the entirety of the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Mother Rock captures the fruit-driven intensity of the Pinot clones grown in the shallowest soil on the estate, and where the marine winds impart a balancing minerality to the wine. Paige’s Ridge speaks to the dark opulence of Dijon 667, grown along the steep craggy cliffs which jut along the shoreline. Golden Mean emphasises the dance of duality between the aromatic Swan clone and the weighted silks of Pommard. Cuvée Cleo is the viticultural apex of their Hyde Old Wente Chardonnay clone, with heightened but not overbearing concentration and depth. The Traveler takes their original 'suitcase clone', a Pinot vine cut from the legendary Vosne-Romanée grand cru in Burgundy, and, celebrating its 9000 km journey, produces what they call their 'most dynamic wine'. Finally, their WF2 is the more affordable, more accessible, more youthful representation of their unique site.

All in all, Wayfarer are a welcomed addition to the Uncorked family, and we are extremely proud to host a great range of their products below...