From Packie to Sonoma: The Peter Merriam Story
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)
Episode 296
Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you!
From Packie to Sonoma: The Peter Merriam Story
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 296 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! From Packie to Sonoma: The Peter Merriam Story This week on The Wonderful World of Wine, hosts Kim and Mark uncork a fascinating conversation with Peter Merriam of Merriam Vineyards. A true Massachusetts native, Peter shares his incredible journey from owning a local "packie" (package store) to establishing a renowned winery in the heart of Sonoma. Join us as Peter delves into the world of sustainable and organic winemaking, offering insights into what makes these practices so vital. We'll also explore the intriguing differences in wine trends between California and Massachusetts, and Peter clarifies the distinction between "family-made" and "Mass-produced" wines. Curious where to find Merriam Vineyards wines? Peter reveals where his exquisite selections are available in Massachusetts, including at the esteemed Davio's restaurants. Plus, he provides a detailed look at his winery, vineyards, and tasting room, giving listeners a virtual tour of his Sonoma operation. Of course, no WWW episode is complete without a tasting! Kim and Mark, along with Peter, sample two of Merriam Vineyards' standout creations: the crisp and elegant 2023 Russian River Chardonnay and the rich and velvety 2023 Russian River Merlot. To learn more about Peter's wines and his remarkable story, visit www.merriamvineyards.com. Cheers! Kim and Mark 🍷🍷🍷 www.thewww.wine #wine #thewonderfulworldofwine #wineeducation #winetasting #merriamvineyards
Peter Merriam
Peter Merriam, Founder and Proprietor Merriam Vineyards
Growing up in Maine, Peter loved the Northeast’s four distinct seasons, helping in the
family garden when it was warm enough, hunting and fishing any time at all. And most
of all, skiing: Peter became an NCAA Division 1 skier in combined Cross-Country
Skiing and Ski Jumping. Naturally, the outdoorsman and athlete evolved into a steward
of the land. It was a bottle of great French Burgundy, though, that turned Peter into
the proprietor of a wine retail business on the outskirts of Boston. “For the love of
wine,” he says. “A wine shop seemed to be the best place to land. (I could supply my
wine cellar at wholesale prices.)”
In the 1980s and 90s, Peter’s focus shifted to California, particularly Sonoma’s nascent
wine industry. As he tasted the small-production wines leading the day, the visionary
understood the quality and scale of winemaking emerging. His satisfaction in drinking
great wines and making them available to others grew into a drive to embark on building
a family estate winery. “I believe this is the purest way to express our passion for wine,”
he says. “We could just purchase bulk wine and market it, but this is what sets us apart:
total control of all that we produce.”
The Merriam Family Story
Tucked at the eastern edge of the Russian River Valley, just south of Healdsburg,
Merriam Vineyards has become one of the region’s loveliest places to settle in and taste,
in one of an array of gracious new spaces around the winery and grounds. With an<…
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