Bien Nacido releases own-label wine

California's renowned Bien Nacido Vineyards are releasing their first own label wines this autumn.

In September, 425 cases of BNV Syrah 2007, BNV Pinot Noir 2007, and a 2008 Chardonnay from Bien Nacido’s Solomon Hills Vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills will be released.

The Bien Nacido vineyards belong to the Miller family, which since 1969 has farmed some of California’s most sought-after grapes from 600 acres of vines in Santa Barbara’s Santa Maria Valley.

Clients include some of the most renowned names in California: Au Bon Climat, Byron, Fess Parker, Foxen, Gary Farrell, Qupé and Sine Qua Non among many others, with a healthy waiting list.

Vineyard blocks, some exclusive to notable clients, are identified by single letters or numbers.

Asked what took them so long to set about bottling their own wines, Nicholas Miller told decanter.com, ‘We’re growers first and foremost, but my dad and my late uncle wanted to leave something for the next generation.’

Miller, 30, has made wines since the 2005 vintage but only decided to commercialise his label with the impending releases. Miller’s brother Marshall joined the winery earlier this year.

The Santa Maria Valley has the most extended growing season of any California wine region, with bud break as early as February and harvests as late as early December.

Written by David Furer

Explore More

David Furer is a Californian wine writer, educator, consultant and speaker, who has worked for over 20 years in the wine trade. He has appeared in publications such as Decanter, Wine Business Monthly in the US and SommelierS Int’l in France. He formerly served on the Circle of Wine Writers’ executive committee and is a sommelier with accreditation from the Court of Master Sommeliers. In his book, Wine Places, he collaborates with photographer Charles O’Rear to capture some of the world’s vineyards, wineries and winemakers.