Pax Wine Cellars is one of California's most genuinely distinctive small producers. Founded in 2000 by Pax Mahle — who trained at several prestigious California estates before striking out on his own — the winery focuses on Syrah and genuinely esoteric varieties including Gamay, Trousseau Gris, Pineau d'Aunis, and Mondeuse Noire, all produced with minimal intervention from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyard sources.
The tasting room at The Barlow — Sebastopol's acclaimed artisan market complex — is a relaxed, urban-style space that the Sonoma County Tourism Board specifically calls out for its casual ambience and top-notch service. Regular art shows by artists including Peter W. Harris create an experience that genuinely combines visual and sensory pleasure.
Visitors consistently note being pleasantly surprised by the complimentary sample of Trousseau Gris — a grape rarely found outside of the Jura region of France — alongside the exceptional Syrah flights paired with carefully curated cheese and charcuterie boards.
At its Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County location, Pax Wine Cellars presents a featured lineup that includes The Growers Series Syrah, Trousseau Gris, Gamay Noir, and Chenin Blanc. Together, these bottles provide a focused introduction to the varieties, vineyard sources, and style that define the winery's current portfolio.
"Sebastopol's most adventurous winery — Syrah, Gamay, Trousseau Gris, and genuinely esoteric varieties made holistically at The Barlow. Wine as art, pa"
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Featured Wines
Syrah
The Growers Series Syrah
The Pax flagship — organically farmed Sonoma Coast Syrah made with minimal intervention. Elegant, peppery, and showing why Pax is considered one of California's premier Syrah producers.
★★★★☆
Trousseau Gris
Trousseau Gris
One of the rarest wines in California — this Jura-native variety is almost extinct in France but thrives in Pax's care. Complimentary sample offered at every tasting visit.
★★★★☆
Gamay
Gamay Noir
Beaujolais' signature grape expressed through California terroir — light, crunchy, and delightfully unlike any California red you've had before.
★★★★★
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Loire Valley-inspired Chenin Blanc — textured, aromatic, and showing remarkable complexity from a variety most California producers ignore.
Walk into The Barlow's most unusual tasting room — Syrah, Gamay, and esoteric rarities paired with artisan cheese and charcuterie, alongside rotating art shows. Walk-ins welcome.
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