COUNTRY :
United States
REGION :
Sonoma
PRODUCTION :
2,000 bottles/year
Darek Trowbridge
Old World Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery. Using grapes from our 100 year old organic vineyards, we create “natural wines” that reflect our family history and the traditional winemaking (old world) practices in Sonoma County.
Pastoral winemaker and proprietor, Darek Trowbridge, has 20+ years of hands on experience in the art and science of vineyard management, grape production, and natural winemaking. His passion is inviting nature into his winemaking. His processes are simple and direct and eliminates the need for any manufactured (man made) chemicals. This process involves effort and shepherding but not manipulation.
“Early Harvest” Abouriou Sparkling Red 2016
Region: Russian River Valley
Grape: Abouriou
Vineyard: Sherry Martinelli
Soil:creekside loam with a shale sub-strata
Average Age of Vines: 92 years
Farming:Biodynamic, Regenerative
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: Col Fondo. The whole clusters are foot stomped, allowed around 2 days of maceration.This base wine is allowed to age for 12 months which brings us to the next season when we have fresh juice from the same block. That fresh juice is added and the wine is bottled. The sparkling occurs naturally in the bottle in the second fermentation of juice.
Aging: base-wine aged 12 months
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 0
Misc: Abouriou is a Basque variety. These gnarly, ancient vines, planted by Darek’s great grandfather in 1930, are the last remaining block of Abouriou in the USA.
Trowbridge Appple Cider 2017
Region: Russian River Valley
Fruit: Granny Smith, Johnathan, Pippin, King, Winesap, and Rome Beauty with 3% Quince
Vineyard: Ben Hurst
Soil:
Average Age of Vines: 80 years
Farming:Biodynamic, Regenerative
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: Col Fondo. These are picked together and milled together, then pressed directly to neutral French Oak barrels. After a period of 12 months in barrel, fresh juice is added from the following vintage. The wine is then bottled and a second fermentation takes place in bottle to bring the bubbles.
Aging: Basewine aged 12 months sur lie in neutral French Barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 30 ppm
Misc:This is an effort to save the 80 year old trees in the orchard of our friend Ben Hurst which are located in the historic apple growing area of Sonoma County called Sebastopol.
‘Abundance’ 2017
Region: Russian River Valley
Grape: Muscadelle, Trousseau Gris, Palomino, Mondeuse Noire, Abouriou, and Zinfandel
Vineyard: AJ Duckhorn
Soil: Loam over Shale
Average Age of Vines: 130 years
Farming:Biodynamic, Regenerative
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: All six varieties are picked on the same day and blended as grapes in a true field blend style, not vinified separately. They are stomped with 100% whole cluster and allowed to soak for a 7 day maceration.
Aging: 2 years sur lie in neutral French Barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 30 ppm
Misc: mulch under the vines to increase the fertility of each vine by bringing microbiology, organic matter, tilth, and drought tolerance to the soil. Planted in 1890 Darek’s great grandfather, Giuseppe Martinelli, to six different varietals.
‘Flow’ Syrah 2014
Region: Russian River Valley
Grape: Syrah
Vineyard: Bellinger
Soil: Volcanic debris, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: Biodynamic, Regenerative
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: Whole clusters were stomped, allowed to soak 7 days, pressed to neutral French Oak barrels
Aging: 2 years sur lie in neutral French Barrels. 4 years in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 ppm
Misc: The 2017 Tubs Fire of Sonoma County burned most of the Fountaingrove District. This vineyard had 100% loss of vines. But the harvest was complete so the final vintage is 2017.
‘ERA’ Late Harvest Abouriou 2015
Region: Russian River Valley
Grape: Abouriou
Vineyard: Sherry Martinelli
Soil: Creekside loam with a shale sub-strata
Average Age of Vines: 92 years
Farming: Biodynamic, Regenerative
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: The 2015 Vintage was a 2nd consecutive drought year, the vines produced very little, and the climate was hot and dry so the ripeness proceeded rapidly and we had lots of sugar at harvest, 26 Brix. The whole clusters were stomped, allowed to soak 7 days and pressed to neutral French barrels
Aging: 4 years in neutral French Barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 15 ppm
Misc: Abouriou is a Basque variety that came to the USA in the 1800’s and at that time was called “Early Burgundy” because they lost the real name somehow. We now know that it is Abouriou. My great grandfather, Giuseppe Martinelli, planted this block in 1930.
‘Rise’ Riesling 2020
Region: Sonoma
Grape: Riesling
Vineyard Size:
Soil:
Average Age of Vines:
Farming:
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: stomped with 100% whole cluster and allowed to soak for 48 hours of skin contact.
Aging: 9 months sur lie in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 30 mg/L
Misc: Label Artwork is by Tonu and Koa, Polynesian Tradition Indigenous Woodcarving Artists. It is a block print of the embrace of the Phoenix and the Whale, of which there is a totem type Red Cedar Tree carving located at the winery.
Pinot Noir 2008
Region: Russian River Valley
Grape: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Butler Vineyard
Soil: Huichica loam runs deep but the vine roots go deeper into the sandy clay below.
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: The Butler Vineyard was farmed Biodynamically by Darek from 2008 to 2010
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: stomped with 20% whole clusters, macerated for 2 weeks, pressed to neutral barrel
Aging: aged sur lie for two years, 9 years in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 30 mg/L
‘L’Aureate’ Chardonnay 2020
Region: Russian River Calley
Grape: Chardonnay
Vineyard Size:
Soil: Silty Loam
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: Regenerative
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking:These grapes were stomped with 100% whole cluster and allowed to soak for 48 hours of skin contact
Aging: 9 months in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 37 mg/L
Misc: Mulch (composted by Darek at the winery) under the vines to increase the fertility of each vine by bringing microbiology, organic matter, tilth, and drought tolerance to the soil.
“Bloom” 2020
Region: Sonoma
Grape: Abouriou, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay
Vineyard Size:
Soil:
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: organic, organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: These grapes were stomped with 100% whole clusters and allowed to soak for 5 days of maceration on both skins and stems.
Aging: 9 months in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 25 mg/L
“ERA” 2015
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Grape: Abouriou
Vineyard Size: 1.21 hectares
Soil: loam, shale
Average Age of Vines: 90 years
Farming: organic conversion, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, pigéage, direct press, 7 day maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral French oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 48 months in neutral French oak, sur lie
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
“Bloom” 2018
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard Size: 5.26 hectares
Soil: loam, shale
Average Age of Vines: 45 years
Farming: organic conversion, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, pigéage, direct press, 5 day maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral French oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 12 months in neutral French oak, sur lie
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 24 mg/L
“Charm” 2011
Region: Hopland, Mendocino
Grape: Alicante Bouschet
Vineyard Size: 2 hectares
Soil: benchland, shale
Average Age of Vines: 30 years
Farming: organic conversion, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, pigéage, direct press, spontaneous fermentation in neutral French oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 48 months in neutral French oak, sur lie, 48 months in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
“Flow” 2014
Region: Fountain Grove District, Sonoma
Grape: Syrah
Vineyard Size: 0.80 hectares
Soil: volcanic
Average Age of Vines: 15 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, pigéage, 7 day maceration, direct press, spontaneous fermentation in neutral French oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 24 months in neutral French oak, sur lie
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
“Abundance” 2017
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Grape: Muscadelle, Trousseau Gris, Palomino, Mondeuse Noire, Abouriou, Zinfandel
Vineyard Size: 0.40 hectares
Soil: loam, shale
Average Age of Vines: 130 years
Farming: organic conversion, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, pigéage, direct press, 7 day co-maceration, spontaneous co-fermentation in neutral French oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 24 months in neutral French oak, sur lie
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
Trowbridge Apple Cider 2017
Region: Sebastopol, Sonoma
Grape: Granny Smith, Jonathan, Pippin, King, Winesap, Rome Beauty, Quince
Vineyard Size: 2 hectares
Soil: sand, loam
Average Age of Vines: 80 years
Farming: organic conversion
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 12 month spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrels with indigenous yeasts
Aging: col fondo, second fermentation with juice from previous vintage in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Early Havest” 2016
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Grape: Abouriou
Vineyard Size: 1.21 hectares
Soil: loam, shale
Average Age of Vines: 90 years
Farming: organic conversion, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 12 month spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrels with indigenous yeasts
Aging: col fondo, second fermentation with juice from previous vintage in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Two Rock Block” 2009
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah
Vineyard Size: 3.23 hectares
Soil: benchland, shale
Average Age of Vines: 35 years
Farming: organic conversion, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: pigéage, 20% stem add-back, direct press, 2 week maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral French oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 24 months in neutral French oak, sur lie, 108 months in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
Butler Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Grape: Pinot Noir
Vineyard Size: 0.80 hectares
Soil: clay, sand, loam
Average Age of Vines: 20 years
Farming: organic conversion, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 20% whole cluster, 2 week maceration, direct press, spontaneous fermentation in neutral French oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 24 months in neutral French oak, sur lie, 120 months in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L