Birichino

About

“…who doesn’t consider themselves just a little bit naughty, after all?”

Drawing on a combined four decades making wine in California, France, Italy, and beyond, Alex Krause and John Locke focus on attaining the perfect balance of perfume, poise, and puckishness. The duo met in 1992 while working for Randall Graham at Bonny Doon. The Birichino project eventually came about when Randall sold his big production wines and downsized his operation. As a result, they were no longer producing a Malvasia that had been very popular in Quebec. Together Alex and John were able to step into the Malvasia void that Bonny Doon’s downsizing had created. During their first two years, they made only Malvasia and sold it only to Quebec. From there they slowly added distribution to other countries, starting with England, and branched out into producing wine from other varieties.

Alex and John do not own any of their own vineyards. Instead, they partner with a number of 3rd and 4th generation growers, who together own some of the most interesting old vineyard plots in California. Sourcing from a number of carefully farmed, family-owned, own-rooted 19th and early 20th century vineyards (along with some more recent acquisitions) planted in mostly moderate, marine-influenced climates, their preoccupation is to safeguard the quality and vibrance of their raw materials. The company is based in California’s Central Coast in Santa Cruz, but they work with growers and vineyards as far away as Mendocino. Their aim is to make delicious wines that give pleasure, revitalize, and revive.