SLO Coast Winemakers Raise the Central Coast's Biodynamic Bar, Buying Bassi Vineyard and Making Outstanding Wines

It's every winemaker's dream to buy a vineyard of their own, and now Gina and Mikey Giugni have done it. And what a vineyard–Bassi is 30 acres of vines near Avila Beach that feels like nature. The whole property is 112 acres. (You can read more about it in the SF Chronicle.)

Owned previously by Mike Sinor, a renowned local vintner, it has been well cared for and last year, under his ownership, it was farmed according to organic and biodynamic practices 9but not yet certified0.

Gina Giugni grew up in a certified biodynamic family in the Sierra Foothills–her parents' winery is Narrow Gate in the El Dorado AVA–and until this year, she farmed a five acre property she leased in nearby Edna Valley (where climatic conditions are quite different from coastal Bassi). She launched her own label Lady of the Sunshine in 2017, making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Chene, sourcing only from certified organic or biodynamic vineyards.

Gina with biodynamic compost

I visited with Gina last August for Slow Wine Guide, touring the Chene vineyard (certified biodynamic) and tasting with her at the winery where she and Mikey (his label is called Scar of the Sea) make their wines in an industrial park in San Luis Obispo. The winery is also certified biodynamic which enables her to label some of her wines "Biodynamic Wine," a very high standard. 

A "Biodynamic Wine" means the grapes are biodynamic, the wine was made in a certified biodynamic winery, and that nothing, save up 100 ppm of sulfites, can be added to the wine. 

Only a few producers in the biodynamic community meet this standard. 

In California, that's AmByth Estate (natural wine) in Paso, and Frey Vineyard (no added sulfites) in Mendocino as well as Narrow Gate. Lindquist Family, while still sourcing from certified biodynamic vines (at Martian in Los Alamos and from Christy & Wise just west of the Santa Rita Hills AVA) is still making wines the way it did previously but has dropped winery certification over complications from its shared facilities. 

In Oregon the list includes Brick House, Brooks, and Maysara in the Willamette Valley and Cowhorn and Troon in southern Oregon. Wilridge in Washington is another. 

The new Bassi vineyard owners plan to certify it organic and biodynamic, I look forward to seeing those labels on more of their wines.

It's great to see people who know what these standards mean taking it to heart. May it continue.

PS Slow Wine also awarded Lady of the Sunshine with its highest accolade–a Snail.