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OUR SMALL NAPA WINERY STORY

Named "BEST WINERY IN NORTH AMERICA" by the Discoverer Blog, PEJU Winery began with Tony Peju daring to sell wines in an informal facility: the garage at their vineyard estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. A lengthy legal battle ensued and Peju persisted: this became the catalyst for Napa County to create the legal definition of what a winery is which was adopted in 1991. It is no wonder that Tony is called "The Father of Custom Crush ".

Next? Reinventing how wine is marketed. In 1985, Tony Peju embraced the concept of Direct-To-Consumer Wine Marketing. In 2003, daughter Lisa became the young ambassador of Peju Winery featured in weekly ads on page 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle. These first of the kind wine "edutainment" ads energized a new market. PEJU's guests grew to include young and old, amateurs and aficionados alike.

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Tony Peju, Vintner

TONY PEJU, FOUNDER & OWNER, 1937 - 2023

The Father of Custom Crush and Direct to Consumer Wine Marketing, Tony Peju was best known for thinking out of the box before thinking out of the box was a thing. A determined visionary, he made his dream a reality by building one of the most well-loved wineries in Napa Valley. His goal remained steadfast, to make PEJU Winery the highlight of every guests visit to Napa Valley. 

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Herta Peju, Vintner

HERTA PEJU, OWNER

Herta (HB) Peju was born in Austria and grew up in Venezuela. In 1983, HB and Tony Peju purchased a 30 acre property in Rutherford – the site of Peju Winery today. A steady presence in many roles in the business, she also ensures that all of the winery’s elaborate gardens and landscaping are maintained to a high standard. Guests often greet her while she is checking on the flowers and trees and overall ambiance of the winery grounds, which also encompass stunning flowers and a wide variety of trees. HB presides over a lavish garden and orchard at her home and is fond of creating delicious meals from that day’s harvest.

Lisa Peju, Vintner

LISA PEJU, OWNER

Born in Los Angeles, Lisa Peju came to the Napa Valley with her family when she was six years old. Lisa started her training young as she grew up in Napa Valley suckering vines, harvesting grapes, and welcoming visitors to her family’s winery. Fast forward to after college when she saw the need for PEJU representation outside of Napa Valley. Lisa hit the road, presenting PEJU wines to trade and consumers across the US and internationally. She has been instrumental in expanding sales to new markets beyond the winery. Lisa is an avid animal lover who enjoys spending time with her chickens and now her new puppy! If traveling permits, you might even catch her working harvest in the PEJU cellar, something she has always loved to do.

Ariana Peju

ARIANA PEJU, OWNER

Born in Los Angeles, Ariana Peju came to the Napa Valley with her family when she was three years old. One of Ariana’s early accomplishments was the installation of 720 solar panels spreading over 10,000 square feet of the winery roof: these provide 35% of the winery’s energy today. Ariana is directing the winery’s transition to a range of other programs, such as using energy efficient light bulbs, non-toxic and environmentally safe cleaning products and recyclable packing and biodegradable shipping materials. In 2016, a vineyard and winery in Carneros joined the PEJU portfolio, and Ariana directed the extensive renovations there.

Sara Fowler, Best Napa Valley Winemaker

SARA FOWLER, VICE PRESIDENT WINEMAKING & OPERATIONS

Sara Fowler has been named Best Local Winemaker by Napa Valley Life Magazine in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Sara began working harvests and summers at Kendall-Jackson, and then pivoted to studying enology at Fresno State and becoming a winemaker. When she arrived at Peju in 2006 her first mission was to transition the estate vineyard into being organically farmed, which was accomplished in September 2007. Today she supervises the farming of the winery’s six estate vineyards in four different sub-AVAs of the Napa Valley.

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