2023 Stirm Calcite

Region: Cienaga Valley < California
Grapes: Riesling, Chenin, Chardonnay

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming at the Wirz vineyard, calcite soils (an ancient type of limestone; 24 hours of whole cluster maceration (Riesling) and direct press (Chardonnay). No sulfur was added. After a 36 hour cold settle in tank, the clean juice was racked off the solids to another barrels for spontaneous fermentation then elevage in barrel on fine lees. Racked off fine lees a month prior to bottling.  Bottled/unfined, minimal added SO2; 11.5% ABV 145 cases  
Winemaker: Ryan Stirm

• Old vine Riesling + Chenin acids tamed by a splash of pillowy Chardonnay
• Flowers and tropical fruit jump out of the glass
• Aromatic palate but bone dry and crisp AF
• Nectarines in alpine water on the rocks
• The Julie Andrews of wine, singing "the hills are alive...."

More about Stirm
Ryan Stirm is one of those winemakers whose talent and passion are evident the instant you taste his wines. Based near the town of Aromas (south of Santa Cruz) Ryan is best known for his mind-blowing Rieslings, but he also makes a handful of other cool wines, like the Pinot featured here. Ryan likes to work with old vines, and to work in the vineyards, where he spends the majority of the time.  San Francisco Chronicle named him a 2017 ‘Winemaker to Watch, Ryan is definitely a rising star in the small world of natural wine, and one of the nicest people we know.  Exactly the kind of vigneron we want to support.