On the Wings of a Pig

Young Morgan Twain-Peterson pressing wine

“Ad Astra Per Alia Porci
To the Stars on the Wings of a Pig”

-John Steinbeck

Vineyard worker driving tractor with freshly harvested red grapes

Bedrock Wine Co. was started in 2007 by Morgan Twain-Peterson. Working out of a small converted chicken coop in a friend’s backyard, Morgan focused on making personality-filled wines wrought from a small array of thoughtfully farmed vineyards. Over time the chicken coop and its outdoor fermenters and tiny basket press gave way to production at another friend’s winery and eventually to the “elegant” tin-sided warehouse that is now called home. In addition, after six years of working alone the winery welcomed Chris Cottrell as a partner-in-crime along with a small, dedicated staff of highly decent human beings.

Bird sitting atop vines that have been pulled out at Bedrock Vineyard

The winery is first and foremost a mission-driven operation dedicated to preserving and rehabilitating old vineyards around California. These vineyards, planted by California’s viticultural pioneers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, are living pieces of history. Not only are we able to draw inspiration from those very pioneers, but we get to actually use the materials they planted, which have survived two world wars, Prohibition and a constantly changing marketplace. If something has been growing for over 100 years it not only deserves the respect of us humans, but it probably makes some darn good wine too.

Though oftentimes Zinfandel, these vineyards are also planted to Mataro (Mourvedre), Carignan, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Grenache, Semillon, Gewurztraminer, Trousseau Gris and Riesling along with dozens of others. The beautiful diversity of our vineyards is certainly a challenge, but it is equally exciting. Charles de Gaulle said, ‘how can you govern a country with 264 types of cheese?' but he did, and with great aplomb. We choose to embrace the challenge of capturing greatness from the viticultural puzzle that is an old vine field blend vineyard.

The winery is also dedicated to taking advantage of the diverse terroirs of California and their capacity to make an enormous range of styles, be it delicate and perfumed rosé, barrel-fermented whites, or violet and pepper-tinged Syrah. We are always exploring—from the heart of Oakville in Napa to the northern reaches of Mendocino and gold hills of Amador, the vastness of Lodi and the beaches of Contra Costa to every corner of Sonoma. Each year, if we are lucky, we find something quirky and new. Throughout all the wines, though, is a dedication to making wines that maintain poise while being infused with California sun. And, most importantly, that are delicious.

Farming

By buying Bedrock wine you are helping us push the conversation forward regarding how well-managed agriculture can improve the world we live in while providing a soulful and history-filled libation.

“What's inspiring about farming is when you start to think about terroir as a system where the plant is communicating with the soil. If you want to express terroir, you want the plant to be communicating with its soil instead of relying on external inputs, which the goal of everything we are doing.” - Jake Neustadt, Director of Viticulture

Fundamental to rehabilitating ancient vineyards is thoughtful farming. At Bedrock we utilize some of the most progressive farming in the industry to repair denuded soils and rebuild broken biological systems. Our core vineyard, Bedrock Vineyard is certified both Organic and Regenerative Organic and we farm our outside vineyards using the same core ethos. What does this mean?

We focus on holistic and agroecological principles to build diversity, minimize soil disturbance, integrate animals and regenerate our landscapes. In the process we greatly improve water capture and carbon sequestration, making our vineyards more resilient to the extremities of weather experienced in this era. We believe that properly enacted agriculture can be of great service to the entire ecosystem around us- from humans to earthworms to fungi- and we relish the journey as we continually work to perfect our vineyard practices.

In doing so we look to certain core principles.

Diversity

Because grapes are a perennial cropping system it is critical to increase biodiversity of all types around the vines. We grow diverse cover crops of over 20 different plant species from 7-8 plant families during the Winter and Spring and utilize thousands of native plants in insectary rows and pollinator pathways throughout the year. We provide habitat for birds and beneficial insects via these crops along with owl boxes and raptor roosts throughout our vineyards. Because of this our vineyards are literally loud- filled with buzzing insects and birdsong.

Soil biology has to be fed, and it has to be fed like any living thing with carbon. So the main food source for the microbiome is plant root exudates, which are sugars that plants excrete from their roots. And all plants do this. It's kind of amazing. A healthy plant will exude 50% or more of its photosynthates into the soil microbiome in exchange for nutrients and this relationship is the core of life on earth.” -Jake Neustadt, Director of Viticulture

AKA the Bedrock Lowdown

Farming