January 21st - January 25th, 2026

THIS WEEK'S TASTING FLIGHT:

Madson Wines

Cool-climate precision from the Santa Cruz Mountains

This week, we turn our focus to California’s rugged coastline and rising mountain vineyards with Madson Wines, a producer shaping the modern identity of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Founded with a deep respect for site and season, Madson has become a compelling voice in one of California’s most nuanced (and least standardized) winegrowing regions.

Working with cool-climate vineyards defined by elevation, maritime influence, and complex soils, Madson crafts wines that favor restraint over excess and transparency over polish. Their approach highlights what makes the Santa Cruz Mountains so distinctive: natural freshness, layered aromatics, and a sense of place that bridges coastal California and Old World sensibility.

Equally important is how Madson operates beyond the vineyard. The winery is fully committed to responsible stewardship, actively offsetting its carbon footprint and pledging to remain carbon neutral, continuing to reinforce a long-term commitment to environmental responsibility and thoughtful farming practices.

As we continue to expand what Mindful Sipping means at Petit Philippe, wines like these help define that evolution. Alongside non-alcoholic and low-alcohol offerings, we’re also highlighting producers whose values extend to sustainability and conscious winemaking - where care for the land is as essential as what ends up in the glass.

Our $22 tasting flight showcases three wines that capture Madson’s range and philosophy:

2023 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

Focused and mineral-driven, balancing coastal freshness with depth.

2023 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

Elegant and lifted, with red-fruited clarity, savory nuance, and refined structure.

2024 “Côte Blonde” Syrah

A cooler-climate expression of Syrah, emphasizing aromatics, peppery spice, and energy rather than weight.

Together, these wines offer a compelling look at the Santa Cruz Mountains through the lens of a producer committed to both place and purpose - where coastal elevation, stewardship, and sustainability converge in the glass.

Join us in the Tasting Room today through Sunday to learn more about cool-climate mountain wine and experience why Madson Wines is a standout producer innovating in Santa Cruz.

Cheers,

Mark & the Petit Philippe team

Thursday, January 29 | 6-8 PM

VOICES OF BRUNELLO

Grande Winterfest Tasting

Hosted with:

Le Ragnaie

with Riccardo Campinoti

and acclaimed singer:

Ms. Melinda Whittington

Voices of Brunello is an immersive Winterfest grande tasting celebrating the intersection of wine, cuisine, and music. Centered on the revered Le Ragnaie estate and guided by owner-winemaker Riccardo Campinoti, the evening unfolds as a reception-style tasting paired with a curated menu and live soprano performances. A rare, multisensory experience designed to express Brunello’s elegance, place, and soul.

SOLD OUT

If you are interested in being added to the waitlist, click here to send us a note.

Saturday, January 31st | 3-5 PM

January Wine Club Tasting & Pickup Party

🍷 Taste exciting new selections curated for next month's offering while picking up your Club wine

🍷 Learn about our 2026 Wine Club membership perks & exclusive events

🍷 Enjoy a complimentary tasting as a Club Member (or join us for just $15 if you're not yet a member).

*Tasting fee is waived when you sign up for a new club membership.

📍 Drop in anytime between 3pm - 5pm for a relaxed and welcoming experience!

Learn More About Wine Club →

Join Us for Weekly Tasting Flights

Available during the hours below

5:00 - 9:00 pm | Thursday

5:00 - 9:00 pm | Friday

1:00 - 9:00 pm | Saturday

1:00 - 7:00 pm | Sunday

Madson Wines

Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnay 2023

Central Coast • California

$42 retail

A coastal, mountain-grown Chardonnay that emphasizes energy, minerality, and precision over richness. This bottling captures the Santa Cruz Mountains’ defining traits: cool temperatures, maritime influence, and naturally bright acidity... resulting in a wine that is focused, transparent, and expressive.

Varietals & Vinification: 100% Chardonnay sourced from small, organically farmed vineyards across the Santa Cruz Mountains. Gently pressed and fermented with native yeasts in neutral French oak barrels, followed by élevage designed to build texture without overshadowing freshness or site character.

Tasting Notes: Pale straw in color. Aromas of lemon peel, green apple, and subtle white flowers are underscored by saline minerality. The palate is crisp and linear, offering citrus and orchard fruit framed by lively acidity and a lightly textured, mineral-driven finish.

A vibrant, versatile Chardonnay well suited to oysters, grilled seafood, or simply enjoyed for its purity and lift.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Madson Wines

Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot Noir 2023

Central Coast • California

$42 retail

An elegant, mountain-influenced Pinot Noir that highlights freshness, aromatic nuance, and savory detail. Drawn from organically farmed sites shaped by elevation and Pacific breezes, this wine reflects a restrained, site-first approach that favors balance and transparency over overt ripeness.

Varietals & Vinification: 100% Pinot Noir sourced from multiple organically farmed vineyards throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Fermented with native yeasts and a meaningful portion of whole clusters to enhance structure and aromatic complexity, then aged in neutral French oak to preserve clarity of fruit.

Tasting Notes: Translucent ruby in the glass. Aromas of pomegranate, wild strawberry, and rose petal mingle with dried herbs and forest floor. On the palate, bright red fruit and savory notes are carried by fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins, leading to a graceful, lifted finish.

A refined, food-friendly Pinot Noir ideal for roasted poultry, mushrooms, pork, or herb-driven dishes.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Madson Wines

“Côte Blonde” Syrah 2024

Central Coast • California

$39 retail

A lifted, Rhône-inspired expression of Syrah that prioritizes aromatics, spice, and finesse. Named for the famed slope in Côte-Rôtie, “Côte Blonde” offers a cooler-climate take on the variety, showing Syrah’s savory and floral side rather than power or density.

Varietals & Vinification: 100% Syrah sourced from cool, coastal-influenced vineyards. Fermented with native yeasts using gentle extraction, then aged in neutral oak to support integration while maintaining freshness and aromatic clarity.

Tasting Notes: Medium ruby-purple in color. The nose opens with violet, cracked black pepper, and fresh herbs layered over red and blue fruit. The palate is energetic and composed, weaving raspberry, olive, and subtle smoky spice with fine tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is savory, precise, and persistent.

A highly adaptable Syrah that shines alongside grilled meats, lamb, mushrooms, or Mediterranean-inspired fare.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Reset & Refresh Pick

Mindful Sipping | Non-Alcoholic

Missing Thorn

Alcohol-Removed Albariño 2024

San Luis Obispo • California

$29 retail

Albariño-based alcohol-removed white wine, crafted from fruit grown in San Luis Obispo, California, specifically intended for non-alcoholic wine production.

Varietal: 100% Albariño

Crafted from carefully selected Albariño grown in San Luis Obispo, this wine is produced with the express goal of preserving varietal purity and freshness in a non-alcoholic format. Whole clusters are gently pressed, cold-settled, and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel, with no malolactic fermentation and no oak influence, allowing the bright aromatics and natural acidity of Albariño to remain front and center.

Alcohol is removed using a low-temperature vacuum distillation process designed to retain the wine’s natural aromas and flavors. Following alcohol removal, the wine is carefully adjusted to restore balance, ensuring vibrancy, texture, and varietal expression remain intact

Tasting Notes: Light gold in the glass, reflecting its youth and freshness. Aromas of exotic lychee and ripe passionfruit lead, followed by zesty notes of lemon and grapefruit on the palate. Subtle honeydew sweetness adds depth, balanced by lively acidity. The finish is crisp and refreshing, with a clean, lingering impression that invites another sip

Petit Philippe NA Review: This Albariño stands out for its clarity and varietal character—bright, expressive, and thoughtfully balanced. The subtle natural sweetness enhances texture without overwhelming the wine’s vibrant acidity, making it one of the more polished and food-friendly non-alcoholic whites we’ve tasted. A refined alternative for those seeking freshness, structure, and true wine character without alcohol.

Bring a Bottle Home →

Producer Deep Dive: Madson Wines

Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast | California

Founded in the Santa Cruz Mountains with a clear sense of intention, Madson Wines is the personal project of winemaker Cole Thomas, whose vision is rooted in restraint, site expression, and long-term stewardship. The name Madson carries personal and symbolic meaning: it comes from Thomas’s paternal grandmother’s maiden name, a Danish surname tied to her journey to the United States in search of opportunity and belonging. The winery embraces this story as a tribute to the shared human pursuit of purpose, place, and connection.

From the beginning, Thomas set out to explore the Santa Cruz Mountains not as a single, unified terroir, but as a mosaic of elevations, exposures, and soils shaped by proximity to the Pacific. One of California’s most complex and least standardized appellations, the region’s steep terrain and fractured geology demand precision and humility. Madson embraces this diversity, working with small, organically farmed vineyard sites across the mountains to capture freshness, aromatic nuance, and natural structure.

In both vineyard and cellar, Madson’s philosophy centers on transparency rather than intervention. Native yeast fermentations, gentle extraction, and restrained use of neutral oak are employed to support—not overshadow—each wine’s origin. The resulting wines favor lift, texture, and balance over overt ripeness or power, drawing more inspiration from Old World traditions than from conventional California styling.

Stewardship extends beyond winemaking alone. Madson actively offsets its carbon footprint and has pledged to remain carbon neutral, reinforcing a holistic approach to sustainability that aligns with a broader view of responsible farming and production. This commitment reflects an understanding that thoughtful winegrowing is inseparable from care for the land, the surrounding ecosystem, and the future of the region.

Today, Madson stands as an important and increasingly influential voice in the Santa Cruz Mountains, helping to redefine what coastal California wines can be. Through precision, restraint, and accountability, the winery offers a compelling expression of place: one shaped by elevation, guided by intention, and grounded in respect for both journey and belonging.

Regional Overview: Central Coast California

California’s Corridor of Climate, Diversity, and Influence

Stretching from San Francisco south toward Santa Barbara, California’s Central Coast is one of the state’s most diverse and dynamic wine regions. Defined by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the region is shaped by cool marine air, coastal fog, and varied topography... factors that create a wide spectrum of growing conditions within a relatively narrow geographic band.

Rather than a single climate or style, the Central Coast is a mosaic of elevations, exposures, and microclimates. Inland valleys warm quickly, while coastal and mountain sites remain cool and wind-swept. This diversity allows for an unusually broad range of grape varieties and wine styles, from vibrant, mineral-driven whites to savory, structured reds - all unified by a sense of freshness and balance uncommon in warmer parts of the state.

Within this expansive region, elevation and ocean influence often define the most compelling wines, offering clarity, tension, and a strong connection to place.

Shop Central Coast Wines →

Appellation Focus: Santa Cruz Mountains

Elevation, Ocean Influence, and Precision

Rising sharply above the Pacific coastline, the Santa Cruz Mountains form one of California’s most distinctive and least uniform winegrowing appellations. Straddling the coast south of San Francisco, this rugged range stands apart from surrounding valleys through its steep slopes, fractured geology, and dramatic elevation changes.

Vineyards here frequently sit above the fog line, rooted in ancient seabed soils and perched on well-draining hillsides. Cool temperatures, persistent wind, and long growing seasons preserve natural acidity and aromatic nuance, producing wines that emphasize structure, freshness, and transparency rather than sheer ripeness.

While the Central Coast as a whole is celebrated for diversity, the Santa Cruz Mountains are particularly prized for their intensity and precision. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah thrive in these conditions, shaped as much by ocean air and elevation as by sunlight... resulting in wines that feel focused, energetic, and deeply expressive of site.

California Mountain Fruit vs. Valley Floor Fruit

Structure vs. Abundance

When many people think of California wine, they often picture plush textures and ripe, generous fruit... qualities commonly associated with warmer, valley-floor regions such as Napa Valley’s lower elevations. These wines are shaped by abundant sunshine, deeper soils, and more consistent warmth, often yielding richness and immediate approachability.

Mountain and cool-climate wines tell a different story. Grown at higher elevations with cooler temperatures and leaner soils, mountain fruit ripens more slowly and evenly. The resulting wines tend to show brighter fruit expression, higher natural acidity, bolder structure, and more powerful, persistent tannins. They unfold gradually, revealing layers of minerality, savory detail, and aromatic complexity.

In regions like the Santa Cruz Mountains, this contrast is especially clear. Elevation and maritime influence create wines that feel more linear, energetic, and age-worthy - often drawing comparisons to Old World styles while remaining unmistakably Californian.

Santa-Cruz-Mountains_cCaliforniaWineInstitute image

Why Explore Mountain & Cool-Climate Wines

Mountain and cool-climate wines offer some of the most compelling and expressive interpretations of modern winegrowing. Shaped by elevation, ocean influence, and longer growing seasons, these wines emphasize balance, nuance, and precision... often revealing more detail and tension than wines grown in warmer valley-floor sites.

Rather than relying solely on ripe fruit, mountain wines showcase how site and climate shape flavor, texture, and structure. From vibrant, mineral-driven whites to lifted, savory reds, these wines reward curiosity and attention, offering elegance without sacrificing character.

This week’s Madson Wines flight highlights the appeal of coastal mountain viticulture, offering a clear window into how elevation and restraint can redefine California wine - and why cool-climate expressions continue to resonate with drinkers seeking freshness, complexity, and a deeper connection to place.

Shop Cool-Climate Wines →