Winemaking
“We must wait for the vineyard to reveal itself”
Our wines tell the story of this place, capturing our wild mountain geology and extreme maritime climate. The purpose of our winemaking is to uncover terroir; to help us be better farmers; and to transmit this unique place into your glass. We farm, vinify and age our more than 60 farming parcels individually, allowing us to taste each one and put that information back into our farming practices. Through this receptive, decades-long process, the site reveals itself.
Resisting techniques in favor of principles
Because of the complexity of our geology and the year-to-year variability of the climate, we resist recipes in favor of principles: look to the soils, the fruit, and the vintage for direction and have the strength to respond to them, not react; we are here to justify the existence of the fruit and site, not vice-versa; patience is not just a virtue, it’s a necessity; the real profit resides in the work and life lived.
Be as non-intrusive as possible, but don’t let it be a fetish
Picking decisions are an extension of the terroir, not an expression of style or winemaker preference. We vinify each block in its own open-top fermenter, allowing indigenous yeasts to guide the fermentation naturally. The handling is gentle, and winemaking inputs are minimal. Once in barrel, the wines rest undisturbed until bottling. Balance, ageability and site-specificity are our holy grails.
These are mountain wines
The soils of our mountain ridgetops are shallow and low vigor. Millennia of erosion has left little topsoil. The sunlight at this elevation is cool yet intense, thickening the skins of the berries. While winters are wet, summers are dry. Forests encircle the vineyards, and wildlife abounds. These elements together produce wines with a profound mountain character: heightened fruit intensity, notable structure, and an elegant wildness.
Each year we enter into a fresh relationship with the site
Tasting our wines across multiple vintages gives the attentive drinker the chance to enter into this exploration with us and experience the site through time. In most vintages they are drinkable soon after release; yet due to their structure and natural balance, there is the potential for extended cellaring. After enjoying a few bottles early in their life, we encourage you to set some aside for longer aging. You will be rewarded.
Wines
Due to the complex nature of our site and climate, many of our wines are produced in very small quantities. Our rarest releases are offered exclusively to members a few times each year via an allocation system. Some of our wines are available without a membership, and may be accessed by all.
Member Exclusive Wines
Block 8
David Hirsch has long considered Block 8 to be his grand cru parcel. This extraordinary vineyard produces elegant, concentrated Pinot Noirs with supple tannins, expressive fruit and balanced acidity.
Raschen Ridge
One of our greatest sites, the Raschen Ridge produces wines with hedonistic fruit, muscular mountain tannins, and dynamic energy. The Raschen Ridge Estate Pinot Noir is a powerful, distinct and compelling wine.
East Ridge
Produced from one of the oldest and lowest yielding sections of Hirsch, the East Ridge Estate Pinot Noir is a mountain wine: chewy, dark-fruited and tannic. A regal and powerful Pinot Noir that is among our most cellar-worthy.
West Ridge
The West Ridge is an ethereal, fragile, and hauntingly aromatic wine. It is our lightest-bodied Pinot Noir, yet possesses a surprising ability to age. Over time, it evolves into a complex, perfumed wine that our founder David Hirsch describes as “romantic.”
Maritime
The Maritime Estate Pinot Noir is unique amongst our wines for its pronounced savory aromatics, evoking the redwoods and wild fennel that closely surround this site. Dusty tannins and gentle red fruit are hallmarks of this wine.
Reserve
The Reserve Estate Pinot Noir is a serious and classic wine, with great focus, refinement and intensity. A block and barrel selection, it captures the most complete and powerful expression of our vineyard.
Immediately Accessible Wines
The below wines are available without a membership. Note, these wines do occasionally sell out and may not be available year-round.
San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is our signature Pinot Noir. Bringing together fruit from approximately 30 distinct farming blocks, it’s the wine that represents the summation of our complex vineyard.
Chardonnay
Our Estate Chardonnay is the only white wine produced at Hirsch. With less than four acres of Chardonnay vines, production is highly limited. Vine age, dramatic soils, and our extreme maritime climate combine to create a wine of dazzling acidity, silky texture and pronounced minerality.
Bohan-Dillon
The Bohan-Dillon Pinot Noir is an homage to the great village wines of France. Our only non-estate wine, it brings together fruit from the Hirsch, Hellenthal and Heintz vineyards. Intended to be delicious and drinkable upon release.
Rosé
This is not your typical rosé. Made 100% from our estate vineyard, it is a true Hirsch wine. This is a vinous, savory and textural wine, with great depth and personality.
Family Blend
Wine should make you happy. The Family Blend Estate Pinot Noir is our winemaker’s selection of the most delicious and happiness-inducing barrels from the vintage. Intended to be delicious and drinkable upon release.