It was another long and cool year in California and we were forced to wait patiently until these grapes were ready to pick. All this has guaranteed that The Birdman is once again a plump avian, round and full and quite unlike his Italian kin. Its depth shown through a long and full nose of citrus fruits, a round, soft palate replete with grapefruit, honeydew and melon and a touch of acidity on the finish that leaves one quenched.

These grapes were harvested in late September and early October due to a sudden and dramatic cooling of the weather right before our normal harvest. The berries were de-stemmed and then gently squeezed with our pneumatic press releasing all of their aromatic juice. The juice was fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, also known as cells. These low temperature fermentations combined with lazy, aromatically gifted yeast preserve, enhance and refine the wonderful fruit characters of this wine. 

As The Warden, Georgetta Dane, it is one of my responsibilities to inform you about The Big House! Big House Winery in Soledad, CA (Monterey County) is a mere ankle iron’s toss from the Soledad State Correctional Facility, a.k.a. “the Big House,” “The Clink,” “The Slammer,” which explains the recurring prison theme depicted on the labels. The brand’s cornerstone is a rebellious New World winemaking style blending Mediterranean varieties. Big House wines unshackle consumers from ball and chain wine choices and rules, creating criminally exhilarating everyday wines.