Solano Cellars
Friday, June 21st from 5-8pm
$25 for a flight of 6 wines ($15 for club)
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Before establishing Birdhorse, Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse's paths seemed destined never to cross. Corinne was born in Sonoma, but other than the regional proximity to the industry, had no ties to wine. Meanwhile, Katie was born into a winemaking family on the other side of the country in Rockbridge County, Virginia. When the time came for each of them to pursue their undergraduate degrees, Corinne headed east to study Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, and Katie to Whitman College in Washington to join their Geology program. But after finding themselves both in California, each with her interest in viticulture piqued, they enrolled at UC Davis' M.S. in Viticulture & Enology, fell for each other, and embarked on a global vinous adventure that would lead them to Birdhorse Wines.
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Their travels took them - independently and together - to New Zealand, Burgundy, Australia, and lastly, South Africa, where they both worked at the iconic Mullineux winery. There, a walk through an old Verdelho vineyard shaped their mission for Birdhorse Wines: to return home and start their own project, highlighting under-the-radar regions and varietals in California, from growers that share their ethos of curiosity, transparency, science, and data, but most importantly an ardor for delicious wines.
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Since their first vintage in 2018, Corinne and Katie have made a point to forge strong, lasting relationships with the growers they work with: the 6th generation farmers at Poor Ranch in Mendocino and their almost 70 year-old Carignan; Glenn McGourty, a UC farm advisor for over 30 years who planted two clones of Arneis in the Russian River Valley in 1994; the team at the organically farmed Farfalla Vineyard in Dry Creek planted to mostly Italian varieties, a nod to the rich Italian heritage of the AVA; and of course, the legendary Ann Kramer of Shake Ridge Ranch, an icon of biodynamic viticulture in Amador County, and indeed in all of California.
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Corinne and Katie will be behind the bar at Solano Cellars on Friday to pour through a lineup of favorites, both old and new - from salty, high toned Vermentino to textured, honeyed Arneis; old-vine, brambly Carignan to savory, lush Barbera. We'll also shine a spotlight on their 2023 Heliotropes, a Cinsault-dominant blend from the volcanic soils of El Dorado County, created in collaboration with artist Lia Halloran in the hopes of bringing queer makers together in support of the queer community at-large. A portion of all sales of Heliotropes will go to
The Tegan & Sara Foundation, whose mission is to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ women and girls, founded on a commitment to feminism and racial, social, and gender justice.
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*No reservations necessary
