Winemaking Philosophy

At Bighorn Cellars we craft each wine with the utmost attention to detail, taking every step possible to ensure that our wines are the highest expression of both their variety and terroir. We handpick and sort our grapes to guarantee only the finest fruit is selected for our wines. We keep each lot separate throughout the winemaking process - down to the exact vineyard block and clone to make certain that each part will add to the final blend.

Our red varietals undergo extended maceration to help unlock all of the aromas and flavors and to develop the “soft” tannins that are the hallmark of all great reds. Our Chardonnays are barrel fermented in 100% French oak and undergo carefully monitored malo-lactic fermentation which can last up to seven months. This ensures that our Chardonnays have an enticingly rich palate with bright fruit that is clean on the finish. Once fermentation is complete we reserve only the “free run” and gentle press portion of our wines thus developing the most elegant expression of flavor and texture possible.

We preserve the complex aromatics and flavors of our wines by using a unique, state-of-the-art simulated gravity flow system that uses nitrogen gas pressure to move the wines gently and without oxygenation. All of our wines are then aged in an artful blend of 100% French oak for up to 24 months, and bottle aged for up to one year before release.

With outstanding vineyard sources in both Napa Valley, California and Willamette Valley, Oregon, we strive to create more than a luscious glass of wine. At Bighorn Cellars, our goal is to let each wine’s distinctive terroir speak with every swirl of your glass…