Birichino

Yes, a potentially exceptional harvest is in the can, as it were. But the big news is that Throwback Vintage Thursday and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are back baby. Thursday, October 28, from 4 to 8 pm, we will fire up the griddle and pour by the glass a little thing I like to call 2014 Lilo Vineyard Pinot Noir from Magnum. Yep. You can make reservations at the VISIT/CONTACT tab of our website, or just come on by. Did I hear an inquiry regarding caramelized onions? Yes, there will be caramelized onions and wine from magnum and melty cheese and Angela Common People Stone and John Duck Fat Locke laying it all down. Come on people! #tbt #downtownsantacruz #grilledcheese #santacruzmountainswine #pinotnoir #pulp #duckfat #throwbackvintagethursday

This morning under wintry skies we closed out Birichino vintage 2021 with a little 99 year-old vine Zinfandel, some 112 year-old vine Grenache, and a bin of Mission from vines that date to the late 19th Century. We could not have done it without these 2 people - Don Miguel and George Besson, Jr. who have brought these grapes to harvest in perfect condition , and thanks to a really careful picking crew, all before the deluge of needed rains coming later today through this week...end. Perfect timing. We are honored, grateful, and very excited at the quality of the 2021 wines in the cellar, with huge thanks to the crew at CCW for handling every crazy thing we threw at them. Best wishes for a smooth wrap up to harvest for those still picking. #harvest2021 #birichino #besson #oldvines #viñascentenarias #vignescentenaires #mission #grenache #Zinfandel #santacruzmountainswine #santaclaravalleywine #californiawine See more

Before sunrise today we started picking the 112 year-old Besson Grenache on a cold, damp wintry morning- the first we’ve seen this season after a long dry summer. It’s a relief to need a few extra layers, and to finally see a little rain in the forecast even as it pushes us to race to beat it with our last picks of the vintage. A Cal Fire helicopter buzzes overhead as a controlled burn just west of us leaped the line, but for now, all is good and we are grateful for this small but healthy harvest, and for getting to hear Phoebe Bridgers Saturday night at the #Greek after a 19 hour day. #birichino #besson #vignescentenaires #californiawines #oldvines #harvest2021 #punisher #phoebebridgers

Who better than Birichino the Swedish talking dog to help us celebrate International Grenache Dog yesterday? #birichino #sverige #internationalgrenacheday

Ok, not all days chez Birichino resemble the last 2 I’ve posted. To make a more representative sample, I think I need to post some quickbooks entries happening, and glamour shots of the industrial park where we make our wines, but this morning was another knockout location and quite spectacular sunrise on par with the quality of the site: Chardonnay first brought to California in the 1880s by the late Paul Masson from his native Burgundy from Corton and Corton-Charlemagne t...hanks to the generosity of Louis Latour’s grandfather, and then passed on to Masson’s protégé, the legendary Martin Ray who first developed this mountain, Mt. Eden, in the 1940s. Today we picked his son Peter Martin Ray’s vines with the help of Peter’s family and friends from Santa Cruz. We are very, very excited to have this in the winery. #birichino #petermartinray #organicfarming #martinray #mteden #californiawines #santacruzmountainwines #chardonnay #californiawinehistory See more

Pre-dawn pick this morning of the world’s oldest Cinsault at Bechthold - its 135th vintage. So grateful to work with the team here and count our 12th harvest of this fruit for Birichino- despite its age, it never gets old. #birichino #harvest2021 #californiawine #lodiwine #bechthold #cinsault #1886