Stagiaire - Scales and Arpeggios Ascona Vineyard 2022

Stagiaire is the project of New Orleans native Brent Mayeaux, whose path to California winemaking took him through cellars in Australia and France. Working with Gareth Belton of Gentle Folk in the Adelaide Hills and Philippe Bornard in the Jura helped shape his interest in natural wine. He returned to California in 2018, bringing those experiences to a project rooted in coastal vineyards and a thoughtful, curious approach to winemaking. VinoNueva Fine & Rare Wine Miami

The name Stagiaire—French for apprentice—comes from Mayeaux’s time working in the Jura. For him, it expresses a commitment to continually learning and improving. His vineyard sources stretch primarily from the Santa Cruz Mountains to western Sonoma, where Pacific influence and mountain elevations help preserve freshness. He prioritizes growers who embrace organic and regenerative practices, with the aim of bringing healthy, expressive fruit into the cellar and adding as little as possible. Stagiaire

After initially taking on the challenges of farming geographically scattered vineyards, Mayeaux increasingly focused on purchasing fruit from selected growers, establishing a cellar on San Francisco Bay’s Treasure Island. The range is adventurous, encompassing unusual blends alongside single-vineyard wines, with each bottling shaped by its fruit and vintage. VinoNueva Fine & Rare Wine Miami

The wine

Scales and Arpeggios has a particularly personal place in Mayeaux’s story: it was his first wine from the Santa Cruz Mountains, and its Sangiovese block became his first farming project. Planted approximately 25 years before this release at around 2,600 feet, the vineyard had struggled to ripen its fruit and faced replanting. Changes to pruning and canopy management helped Mayeaux reveal its potential. He describes 2022 as the final vintage of this bottling. Stagiaire

The grapes were picked late in the season, fermented as whole clusters in tank with an extended maceration, and aged in barrel for one year. The 2022 emphasizes bright red fruit, dried herbs, and earthy, forest-floor nuances—a savory expression of mountain-grown Sangiovese. Tomato-based pasta, mushroom dishes, or herb-roasted lamb would make inviting companions.

Producer: Stagiaire

Country: USA

Region: California

Varietal: Sangiovese

Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml