Alex Krause and John Locke founded Birichino in Santa Cruz in 2008. Drawing on a combined four decades of making wine in California, France, Italy, and beyond.
They now source their Birichino grapes from a number of family-owned vineyards, carefully chosen for their moderate, marine-influenced climates and their minimal intervention approach. In production, they favour native fermentations, employing stainless steel or neutral barrels. There is minimal racking and fining, and filtration is, more often than not, avoided.
Malvasia Bianca is a highly aromatic Italian grape brought over from Calabria in the 1900s. Here it has the scent of a dessert wine, floral aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom with ripe peach and apricot fruit. But don't be deceived, there is structure and depth from some skin contact, refreshing acidity and a surprisingly dry finish.
Another refined and captivating wine from Birichino.