Jolie-Laide Wines 'Fanucchi Vineyard' Trousseau Gris, Russian River Valley, California

There’s something quietly magical about the Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard—a small, nearly forgotten plot of gnarled, old-vine Trousseau Gris, planted in the late 1970s. These nearly extinct vines, with their massive trunks and deep roots, yield fruit that is as intriguing as it is scarce. Scott Schultz has been working with this vineyard since 2010, and each bottling continues to honor its singular personality. The 2023 vintage delivers its familiar textural grace while offering a fresh vibrancy unique to this growing season. Foot-crushed whole clusters, three days of skin maceration, and fermentation with native yeast in stainless steel and neutral puncheons give this wine a golden-pink hue and a complex, savory structure. It’s a skin-contact white with elegance and lift—proof that beauty can emerge from the edges of extinction.

Product Details

• Region: California
• Subregion: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
• Vineyard: Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard
• Varietal: 100% Trousseau Gris
• Vintage: 2023
• ABV: 12.4%
• Farming Practices: Dry-farmed, Practicing Organic
• Vine Age: Planted in the late 1970s (Trousseau Gris block dating to 1981)
• Fermentation: Native yeast; whole cluster foot-crushed; three days skin maceration
• Aging: Neutral puncheons
• Fining/Filtering: Unfined, Unfiltered

Sensory Description
Delicately savory and textural, with a luminous golden-pink hue in the glass. Aromas of summer melon, lemon peel, and nectarine are layered with notes of crushed stone and white tea. A faint herbal lift—think nasturtium and Arbor Bai Mudan tea—adds intrigue, while a clean, stony minerality anchors the wine. Jessica Barrand describes it as “a wine that makes you pause—a quiet, thoughtful beauty that reveals itself slowly.”

Winemaker’s Background
Jolie-Laide is the personal label of Scott Schultz, an independent winemaker based in Sebastopol, California. Producing just 500 cases annually, Scott focuses on obscure varietals and site-driven wines made with minimal intervention. The name Jolie-Laide—French for "pretty-ugly"—speaks to his belief in celebrating unconventional beauty. Working with organic and sustainable vineyards, Scott’s wines express a raw honesty and sense of place. His work with Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard’s nearly extinct Trousseau Gris has been a passion project for over a decade, and his collaborative spirit places him firmly among California’s natural wine vanguard.

Serving Suggestions
Serve chilled at 50–54°F. This skin-contact Trousseau Gris is versatile at the table—pair it with charcuterie boards, grilled shrimp, or roasted root vegetables. Its savory, tea-like finish also makes it a beautiful match for dishes with a touch of umami, like miso-glazed eggplant or mushroom pâté. Give it a gentle decant or let it open in the glass to experience its full spectrum.