2022 Birdhorse Rosé
TL; DR: Get one of the best rosés to come out of California this year and celebrate the last days of Summer. Want more? This rose is made by women on the front lines of changing winemaking in our state for the better! Join us this Friday at Vine Street to taste the full lineup of Birdhorse wines.
(*Limited quantities, these are the last 5 cases left of this amazing vintage)
Great wine doesn't always require context, but in the case of the winemaking couple behind Birdhorse, it's more than welcome. Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse met at UC Davis, and after graduating they travelled to South Africa to work the 2018 harvest at the iconic Mullineux Winery. In an old Verdelho vineyard, they found their inspiration for Birdhorse Wines. Their mission: to highlight regions and varietals in California that have long had a presence in the wine industry but have remained woefully under-the-radar. "We are driven by intellectual curiosity, transparency, science, and data, but most importantly an ardor for delicious wines."
.
Their rosé is perhaps the best summation of their ethos: a blend of varietals, each from a unique vineyard site, blended to express the hallmark character of each. This year, Valdiguie from the Suisun Valley is once again the cornerstone, bringing with it a wave of blue fruit and ancho chili smoke. Barbera from the iconic Shake Ridge offers wild cherry and anise, and Mendocino Carignan adds to the spice box complexity, with the snap of red plum skin dancing in the background. All together, they form a palate of fresh summer berry, with a campari-like bitterness that offers structure and intrigue.
But Birdhorse is more than a story about great wine. They've also done something uncommon in the wine industry: they've exemplified queer excellence and joy, and each year have promoted fundraisers to support the LGBTQ community (including the Oakland LGBT Center, Larkin Street Youth, and The People's Pottery Project). They have also made a point of working with businesses run by women and people of color (50% of their wholesale partners in the Bay Area are woman owned/operated) and partnering with small farms championing fair compensation and treatment of their workers. In short, they are extraordinary people—and great winemakers to boot. We've been hooked from day one.
.