Inspired by the Native American principle of honoring and preserving the land, Derek cultivates his vineyards in ways that respect natural resources and future generations. Through Bravium, he emphasizes the importance of place, both as a cultural value and as…

Rather than using commercial strains of yeast which often override vineyard distinctions, Derek turned to native fermentations. Through extensive research and trials, Torulaspora delbrueckii, a wild yeast, emerged as a standout for enhancing aromatic complexity, fruit purity, and texture.  …

Bâtonnage is a traditional winemaking technique that Derek employs to enhance texture and mouthfeel while preserving each wine’s natural character. This gentle method involves stirring the lees, the spent yeast and grape solids that settle after fermentation, to develop a…

Bees in the Vineyard The fungicides and pesticides typically used in traditional farming are harmful to bees, and this widespread practice is in part why bee populations have declined around the world. In regenerative organic farming, however, the bees and…

Regenerative Farming Before It Was Cool Regenerative organic farming is about building soil and ecosystem health to leave the land, waters, and climate in better shape for future generations. It goes beyond sustainable and organic, and draws from practices Indigenous…

Whole Cluster Fermentation Whole-cluster fermentation is the fermentation of intact, whole clusters of grapes. Leaving the grapes uncrushed and on stem during  fermentation can be beneficial because the stems contain large amounts of phenolics—tannins, flavanols, and other flavor compounds—which provide…

Hungarian Oak WHY BRAVIUM USES HUNGARIAN OAK BARRELS About ten years ago, my eyes were opened to Hungarian oak during a blind tasting arranged by iconic barrel broker Mel Knox. I tasted the same Chardonnay and Pinot Noir raised in…

Ingredients Labeling Starting with the 2022 vintage, the back labels of all of my Bravium wines have included ingredient lists. My thinking is that a traditionally produced wine should always contain no more than five ingredients, otherwise it’s more of…

Why Diam Cork For centuries, cork has been the bottle closure of choice for winemakers as it is a natural product that allows fine wine to evolve in the bottle. But one drawback to traditional cork is the risk of…

Bravium Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2019 “Earthy mushroom vibes calm the senses before you take a sip. The palate is soft and supple, with a quiet edge and a hint of tannins. This would be a great wine to bring…