Ian and Heather Brand began their family winery with pennies and a dream in 2007 while working in the cellars, vineyards and management of other wineries. In 2008, they moved to Salinas in Monterey County so Ian could focus on the winery while consulting, hustling and doing whatever work came his way. In 2010 they leased out half of an existing winery. In 2013, they built out their own production space in the industrial district of Salinas. They’ve expanded the space twice since then. Along the way, they’ve uncovered potential in regions and vineyards largely forgotten by the greater wine industry, grown fruitful relationships with local growers (while working tirelessly to promote low input and organic viticulture), and developed a winemaking style suited to the rocky, windswept Monterey Coast. In 2018, Ian was named the San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year.
“We did not set out to make these wines. We discovered great vineyards at the edge of sensible farming and decided to bring them to light. The farther we looked, the more we found – remote, challenging vineyards, with hard depleted soils, and intense sunlight tempered only by the coastal breeze. Vineyards capable of producing only the most idiosyncratic wines. Our goal as winemakers is to lightly polish the roughest edges and leave the idiosyncrasy intact. It is here in the back country, filled with individual character, where Le P’tit Paysan comes to life. We are not in “wine country” nor do we have trophy wineries. This is farm land, desolate hills, and solititude. What we do is simple, without artifice, and we enjoy it.”
— IAN BRAND
The Le P’tit Paysan label is ‘village’ wines reimagined for California. They take vineyards and lots that, for whatever reason, Ian chooses not to have stand on their own, and Ian composes them into terroir specific, eminently drinkable wines that belong on your table. These wines are made with the same attention to detail that graces his single vineyard offerings, specific site selection, open top fermentation (reds) or whole cluster pressing (whites), a focus on endemic fermentations, no enzymes, no fining, gentle filtration only as needed. Easy to drink but subtly serious, easy to pair but lovely on their own, demurring complexity, bright acidity, clean and fresh as the ocean air that blows in daily off the Monterey Bay.
LE P’TIT PAYSAN CHARDONNAY JACK’S HILL
MONTEREY COUNTY
$24.99 in our CHARDONNAY section
LE P’TIT PAYSAN OLD VINES CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN BENITO COUNTY
$25.99 in our CABERNET section
LE P’TIT PAYSAN “P’TIT PAPE”
CENTRAL COAST