At A Glance
- Region
- California's Central Coast
- Base
- Santa Cruz
- Founders
- Alex Krause, John Locke
- Operating model
- Two-person company; owns no land; shares a winery
- Varieties named in bottles
- Pinot Noir, Malvasia Bianca
The Producer
Alex Krause and John Locke founded Birichino in Santa Cruz in 2008. Between them, they brought four decades of winemaking experience across California, France, Italy and other places.
The two work without an estate property and share a winery. They source carefully farmed, family-owned, own-rooted vineyards planted in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cinsault and Malvasia Bianca are among the varieties they use; together, the two comprise 7% of California's total vineyard acreage.
Native fermentations form part of Birichino's minimal-intervention cellar work. Wines are handled in stainless steel or neutral barrels, with minimal racking and fining. Filtration is avoided altogether when possible. These choices are intended to highlight distinctive site qualities.
The founders aim to make wines that give pleasure, revitalize and revive.
Wines
Birichino Vin Gris 2022 is a rosé. Birichino Scylla 2024 and Birichino Saint Georges Pinot Noir 2024 are reds. Birichino Pétillant Malvasia Bianca 2022 and Malvasia Bianca Birichino 2021 are whites.
The range also names a 2022 Pétulant Naturel Skin-Fermented Malvasia Bianca. No composition, élevage or sensory detail is established for these bottles.