Launching our new Wine Collection next week!
In 2010 Bill Hooper moved from Minnesota to Germany to attend the prestigious Wine and Agriculture School in Neustadt. He is one of only two American graduates in the school’s 122-year old history. Only German is spoken in the curriculum, so the fact Hooper had just two years of high school German under his belt makes this feat even more impressive.
In 2010 Bill Hooper moved from Minnesota to Germany to attend the prestigious Wine and Agriculture School in Neustadt. He is one of only two American graduates in the school’s 122-year old history. Only German is spoken in the curriculum, so the fact Hooper had just two years of high school German under his belt makes this feat even more impressive.
​
The Paetra Wine label launched in 2014 with an Eola-Amity Hills riesling. Paetra, pronounced “pay-truh,” is taken from petra, the Latin word for “rock.” It is a tip of the cap to the soils Hooper worked with in Germany’s Pfalz region.
​
Hooper currently purchases fruit from 10 vineyards that do not rely on manmade herbicides or fertilizers to make his wines at ADEA Wine Co. in Gaston.
​
​
WINES
Paetra Elwetritsche Riesling
​
The word 'Elwetritsche' refers to mythical beasts that are said to inhabit the Haardt Mountains around the city of Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Stylistically this bottling pays homage to the German Pfalz. The grapes were hand-harvested and receive a 24-hour skin maceration before pressing. Fermentation occurs without commercial yeast or any chemical additions.
​
Aromatically the wine has notes of fresh white peaches, ruby red grapefruit, white flowers, and spice. The palate is bold and acid-driven, with the following flavors of peaches and plums, as well as delicate white tea.
​
Paetra Pinot Blanc
​
The Pinot Blanc is hand-harvested from old-vines grown at 750 feet above sea level. Once gathered the grapes ferment in 100% neutral oak without the usage of commerical yeasts. The resulting wine is very pure and mineral with hints of pear, exotic fruit and bright acidity.
​
Paetra Eola Amity Hills Pinot Noir
​
This bottling of Pinot Noir is a clone blend of Wädenswil, 777, and 828. After the grapes are harvested, they ferment in open-top fermenters with native yeast and no chemical additions. The wine is then barreled down into neutral oak for maturation.
​
Aromatically the wine is delicate with notes of roses and hibiscus as well as just ripened red fruit flavors. On the palate, the wine is light and bright with notes of brambly raspberries and tart strawberries.
​
​
​