# Winemaker's Reserve Pape Blanc (2024)

- **Producer:** Perissos Vineyard and Winery
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
- **Region:** Texas, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blossom, peach, pear, apricot, brioche, toast, vanilla, cloves, honey

## About this wine

Winemaker Brent Pape created Pape Blanc as a playful nod to his surname while paying tribute to classic white blends of France's Southern Rhône Valley. Produced by Perissos Vineyard and Winery, founded by Brent and Seth Martin in Burnet, Texas, the winery's name derives from a New Testament Greek word meaning 'exceedingly, abundantly beyond expectation.' The winery focuses on hand-crafted, high-quality wines using grapes adapted to the warm Texas climate and high-altitude terroirs.

## Interesting facts

- Pape Blanc is a clever wordplay on winemaker Brent Pape's name and France's famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc.
- Perissos translates from Greek to 'exceedingly abundantly, far beyond expectation.'
- The wine is aged in rare Acacia wood barrels alongside traditional European oak.

## Food pairing

The medium-plus weight and subtle barrel complexity match rich proteins like shellfish, pork, and poultry, while bright natural acidity cuts cleanly through rich cream and butter sauces without being overwhelmed.

## Wine making process

The grapes for this Rhône-style white blend were harvested from high-elevation vineyards in the Texas High Plains AVA, situated between 3,000 and 3,700 feet above sea level. Following cool fermentation to preserve natural freshness and varietal character, the wine was aged in a combination of European oak and rare Acacia wood barrels. Acacia barrel aging is utilized to contribute delicate warm spice and subtle structure without overwhelming the delicate fruit and floral aromatic profile.