Birichino
2025 Birichino 'Car Car Glou Glou Akashita' 750ml
This wine ticks many of the Nouveau boxes: carbonic maceration; brilliant, deep purple color; gentle level of alcohol; in bottle the first couple weeks of November. However, it undeniably exhibits a more serious side and shows every intention of having the guts to stretch its legs for a couple years.
- Producer
- Birichino
- Style
- Red
- Type
- Still
- Grape
- Origin
- Lodi, California, USA
- Country
- USA
- Region
- California
- Sub-region
- Lodi
- Appellation
- Lodi
- Classification
- AVA
- Farming
- Sustainable
- Winemaking
- Fruit from Montague Vineyard in Mokelumne River, picked before dawn. A small portion was destemmed into an open tank, then intact whole clusters were added on top. Carbonic maceration for several days, followed by native yeast fermentation with twice daily pump overs. Malolactic finished, then the wine settled naturally in neutral French barrels. Bottled without filtration, with a modest addition of SO2. Production is about 478 cases annually.
- Methods
- Native Yeast, Whole Cluster, Unfiltered, Low Sulfites, Carbonic Maceration
- Tech sheet
- Download
Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, United States
Learn More
Birichino
Birichino began in 2008 in Santa Cruz, when Alex Krause and John Locke, after years working together at Bonny Doon Vineyard, set out on their own. Their first wine was Malvasia Bianca, made at the request of a buyer for Québec’s liquor board, and the name Birichino, Italian for naughty, stuck after that debut.
They grew the range by seeking out old vines across California, especially late 19th and early 20th century plantings farmed by families they knew. The pair favor gentle cellar work, native fermentations and bottling without filtration when they can, and they often harvest at night to bring in cool fruit.
Today Birichino works with sites like Montague in Lodi, Besson in Santa Clara and Enz in the Cienega Valley, keeping to a low intervention approach and highlighting perfume and freshness from these historic vineyards.
They grew the range by seeking out old vines across California, especially late 19th and early 20th century plantings farmed by families they knew. The pair favor gentle cellar work, native fermentations and bottling without filtration when they can, and they often harvest at night to bring in cool fruit.
Today Birichino works with sites like Montague in Lodi, Besson in Santa Clara and Enz in the Cienega Valley, keeping to a low intervention approach and highlighting perfume and freshness from these historic vineyards.
| Nose | Strawberry, fresh cherry, raspberry, cedar, a touch of tobacco |
|---|---|
| Palate | Dark berry and cherry, a layer of pepper, cedar and a touch of tobacco |
| Finish | Medium, tart red fruit and light spice |
| Texture | Soft, gentle tannin |
| Body | Light to medium |
| Serving | Serve at 55°F. No need to decant. |
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Alcohol
- Moderate
- Vintage
- 2025
- Pairs with
- Margherita pizza; Smash burgers with pickles; Herb roasted chicken; Grilled salmon with tomato salad; Charcuterie with olives and aged cheddar.
- Blend
- Carignan
- Cellaring
- Drink now
- Terroir
- Montague Vineyard west of the Mokelumne River in Lodi, vines planted circa 1927 to 1930 on Tokay fine sandy loam.
red grape · regional staple
Carignan
kah·ree·nyahn
High tannin and acidity rising through a garrigue-herb aromatic lift.
2025 Birichino 'Car Car Glou Glou Akashita' 750ml
Sale price$26.00
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2025 Birichino 'Car Car Glou Glou Akashita' 750ml
Sale price$26.00
This wine ticks many of the Nouveau boxes: carbonic maceration; brilliant, deep purple color; gentle level of alcohol; in bottle the first couple weeks of November. However, it undeniably exhibits a more serious side and shows every intention of having the ...
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