Piquenique Medlar 2021

San Juan Islands, United States. Medlar, Apple ABV: 7.5

A fascinating and rare fruit, medlar must be bletted (aged until soft like persimmon) before it can be eaten making it a perfect candidate for long macerations in mellow apple juice. Complex and unique and somewhat like apples, somewhat like stone fruit, and somewhat like persimmon medlar is in the rose family and gives this cuvée a fascinating floral element. 

Piquenique is an extraordinary project from two of America’s best wine minds: Tess Bryant of Tess Bryant Selections and Niccolo Coturri of the famed California family of vignerons. They live together now on San Juan Island in the isolated archipelago of the same name, 3 hours outside of Seattle, Washington. A remarkably beautiful part of the world not known for its wine making. Nick and Tess source a stunning variety of fruits both wild and cultivated, including grapes, quince, medlar, blackberries, and apples from around the archipelago to create truly unique fermented beverages.