New: Partage Wine Company from Former Saison Sommelier

For those who like to discover new wines before they get big — Partage Wine Company might be your next find.
Usually, we entrust our winemaking to oenology experts or viticulturists. But why not also entrust winemaking to someone who has the incredibly refined palate to judge those wines? Mark Bright, who partnered with Joshua Skenes to open the now Michelin-rated Saison and also served as sommelier, might be one of the few to successfully take that daunting task on.
Via the San Jose Mercury News, Bright has just launched his new label, Partage Wine Company. The grapes are grown in the emerging Ben Lomond AVA in the Santa Cruz mountains, and then bottled at his friend’s Beauregard Vineyards.
There are currently two varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with vintages from 2013 and 2014. Given the cool region and higher altitude, Partage Chardonnay offers a higher acidity and bright flavors, making it a good companion to food. The Pinot Noir takes on more mineralogy and power from the limestone soil. The wines range from $38-58, and tastings can be arranged with Bright at http://www.partagewinery.com.
It’s highly possible that we may see a Saison label in the future coming from Bright. Will it come at Saison-level prices? As Bright looks forward to refining his winemaking style in the coming years, that’s also a likely possibility.

  • Saison’s sommelier-turned-winemaker – San Jose Mercury News