| Region of production: | Sonoma Coast AVA |
| Winery Location: | Cazadero |
| Year Established: | 1978 |
Vineyard Holdings
- Estate Vineyard (29 ha): 27.5 ha planted to Pinot Noir.
- East Ridge: Steep sloped, east-facing hills protected from the coastal winds. Two-thirds of the block has phylloxera, naturally reducing yields. One-third planted in 1990, the rest in 2003.
- West Ridge: Vines with leafroll virus are planted on heavy clay soils on the west ridge of the property.
- Block 8: A smaller block within West Ridge that has a higher content of iron oxide and red rock. Planted in 1993.
Top Wines Produced
- San Andreas Fault (Sonoma Coast AVA): A blend from over 30 vineyard blocks.
- Reserve (Sonoma Coast AVA): Made from a barrel selection of the best and oldest vineyard blocks.
- Block 8 (Sonoma Coast AVA)
- East Ridge (Sonoma Coast AVA)
- West Ridge (Sonoma Coast AVA)
Average Total Production
- 6,000 bottles
Summary
David Hirsch purchased his estate just two miles from the Pacific Ocean in 1978, driven to make site-specific Pinot Noir on the “true” Sonoma Coast. He planted Riesling and Pinot Noir in 1980 and continued to develop the estate throughout the next two decades. Hirsch sold Pinot Noir grapes to Williams Selyem, Littorai, Kistler, and other notable producers before making estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay beginning in 2002, with Vanessa Wong (now of Peay) as the first winemaker. Current winemaker Anthony Filiberti took over winemaking from Ross Cobb in 2015, drawing experience from Knez Winery and his own project, Anthill Farms. David’s daughter, Jasmine, began assisting in sales and marketing in 2008 and has helped to bring increased attention to the brand. Since 2014, all of Hirsch’s vineyards, gardens, and orchards have been farmed biodynamically.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Hirsch gravitates toward a non-interventionist approach, employing gentle handling throughout the winemaking process. Fruit is sorted twice: once in the vineyard and again in the winery. No pumpovers are used. Whole-cluster inclusion is typically little to none, and use of new French oak is minimal. Racking and blending are not done until bottling, and the wines are bottled unfiltered.
Producer Website: Hirsch