Aberro

17. Backstory

The name Aberro chose us. Derived from ‘to wander’ or ‘to stray’, this concept, and the motion it spurred, proved a salve to our anguished spirits in the confusion that was 2020. What followed was a reconnection with our past and newfound freedom for the future. Ultimately, we hope the wines of Aberro will prove the virtue of wandering; of NOT staying the course.

18. The Wines

From the sandy loams of Cat Canyon to the maritime hills of Santa Maria Valley, and the volcanic tuff of Diamond Mountain to the rocky fields of northeast Oregon, these wines are defined neither by winemaking style or variety. Open, expressive and vibrant as the west coast lands from which they rise, they draw fortitude from their ancient origins while reminding us to loosen our grip and enjoy the ride.
Two syrahs from formidable vineyards in California’s Central Coast were the embryonic beginnings of Aberro in 2020.

The Rocks Syrah

For all the poetry of wind and sun, wine draws character from rock. Just inside Oregon’s border with Washington lie stone fields that are hell on your ankles, but brilliant for growing delicious Syrah. The only winegrowing appellation in America with boundaries strictly defined by soil profile, The Rocks District is a six-square-mile fan of baseball-sized basalt rocks, deposited and smoothed by the Walla Walla River in an earlier epoch. It figures that a logic-defying vineyard would yield a Syrah opposed to easy categorization. Spanning the traits of savage and classical, this wine is wildness suspended in a traditional frame. The 2022 Rocks Syrah was fermented 15% whole cluster and raised in 20% new barrels for 18 months. The wine is giving, generous, and inviting; proof that the reward is in the journey.

Bien Nacido Syrah

A vineyard named ‘good birth’ befits a new adventure. Brightly fruited and subtly savory, syrah from the Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley is a proper combination of finesse and power. We fermented the wine in open-topped tanks, including roughly a third of the fruit in whole-cluster form. From early on, the beautiful duality of syrah was evident in the wine - a bright, red-fruited melody that soared over the supporting harmonies of savoriness. What began as a detailed and almost ethereal wine has broadened and deepened, gaining weight and richness in bottle.

White Hawk Syrah

Between conquering and yielding is room enough to stand and face a challenge. Not to impose your will. Not to surrender. Simply to understand. This brooding and beastly syrah from the sandy soils of White Hawk Vineyard calls us to hear the melody in its roar and to patiently understand. This powerful expression of syrah was fermented fully destemmed in an open top tank. To frame the unbridled richness of the wine, it was raised in one third new François Frères barrels. As the tannins resolved the wine’s savoriness grew more full-throated. Now in bottle, the White Hawk syrah feels like drinking a force of nature.

Diamond Mountain Chenin Blanc

Looking to the hills seemed a logical place to try something new. It is the fruit of Nigel’s hunch that chenin blanc would thrive in a specific spot on Diamond Mtn. and the cojones to actually rip cabernet from the ground and plant chenin blanc in its place. A gentle whole cluster press preceded a racking to 600L puncheons and neutral 228L barrels where the wine enjoyed a nice, slow fermentation and a subsequently brief élevage. With as much white wine as we consume, it’s about time we made some of our own.

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Thank you so much for your interest in our project.

Our wines are offered to mailing list members annually. Due in large part to our obnoxiously limited production, this list is currently at capacity.

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