Broc Cellars The Perfect Red 2023

Broc Cellars is a natural wine producer based in Berkeley, California, founded in 2004 by winemaker Chris Brockway. The winery focuses on creating approachable wines for everyday drinking using organically farmed grapes sourced from vineyards throughout California, from Paso Robles in the south to Mendocino in the north.

Chris Brockway employs minimal intervention winemaking techniques across all Broc Cellars productions. The winery uses spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts present on the grapes, never adding commercial yeast, nutrients, bacteria, enzymes, or tannins during the winemaking process. Broc Cellars does not add sulfur during fermentation or aging, though small amounts may be added at bottling depending on the wine, style, and vintage.

The winery harvests grapes early to maintain healthy fruit with good acidity levels. This practice often results in lower alcohol wines and lower brix at harvest, which facilitates easier fermentations. All vineyards that supply grapes to Broc Cellars are organically farmed and family-owned operations.

In 2023, Broc Cellars purchased Fox Hill Vineyard in Mendocino County after sourcing fruit from the property for a decade. This acquisition allowed the winery to extend its vision of natural winemaking practices into vineyard management. Fox Hill Vineyard is CCOF certified organic and planted with Italian grape varieties including Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Primitivo, Lagrein, and Negroamaro.

Broc Cellars maintains long-term relationships with specific vineyards, including Wirth Ranch in Solano County Green Valley, where the winery has sourced grapes since 2002. Wirth Ranch features heritage vines planted in 1948 growing on steep slopes in iron-rich volcanic soils. The vineyard is organically farmed and dry-farmed.

The winery organizes its portfolio into several collections: Broc Heritage wines representing classic California styles, the Love collection showcasing unsung grape varieties at affordable prices, Got Grapes celebrating unique winemaking explorations, and Fox Hill wines featuring Italian varieties grown at the estate vineyard.

California is the largest wine-producing state in the United States, accounting for approximately 85% of American wine production. The state contains more than 4,000 wineries and over 600,000 acres of vineyards spanning from the Mexican border to the Oregon border. California wine production encompasses diverse climates, terroirs, and grape varieties across multiple American Viticultural Areas.

Napa Valley and Sonoma County are the most recognized California wine regions, located north of San Francisco in the North Coast region. Napa Valley covers approximately 45,000 acres of vineyards and contains 16 sub-appellations. Sonoma County encompasses roughly 60,000 acres with multiple distinct AVAs including Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley.

The Central Coast extends from the San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara County, including Paso Robles, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Santa Maria Valley. This region benefits from coastal fog and maritime influence that moderate temperatures. The Central Valley, including Lodi and the San Joaquin Valley, produces the majority of California's total wine volume.

California's Mediterranean climate provides warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters suitable for viticulture. The state's geography creates diverse mesoclimates through elevation changes, proximity to the Pacific Ocean, and coastal mountain ranges. Fog from the Pacific Ocean travels through gaps in the coastal ranges, cooling vineyards in regions like Carneros, Russian River Valley, and Anderson Valley.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted red wine grape in California, followed by Zinfandel, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. Chardonnay leads white wine grape plantings, with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Chenin Blanc also widely cultivated. California wine production dates to the 18th century when Spanish missionaries planted Mission grapes at California missions.

The modern California wine industry developed significantly after Prohibition ended in 1933. The 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where California wines scored higher than French wines in blind tastings, increased international recognition for California wine production. California contains over 140 American Viticultural Areas, ranging from large regions like the North Coast AVA to small, specific appellations like Stags Leap District and Mount Veeder in Napa Valley.