Where ya been, you'll love my zin!

Blue Belly is a one man band orchestrated estate vineyard and winery; an old school approach to farming and wine making tradition. Old wooden vessels created back in time have a sound structure and character: the same goes for wine. This is implemented in my 7-acre dry-farmed, head-pruned zinfandel vineyard. I utilize cross cultivation that eliminates the use of herbicides (they didn't have that stuff in the old days) which is a part of good organic management.

The winery consists of a 100 year old turkey barn, with charm. Harvest begins with open bin fermentation, ratchet pressing and filling the barrels which is accomplished with the best tool in the barn, a 5-gallon bucket! I'm exhausted just thinking about it. I produce about 200 cases a year, which consists of zinfandel, zinfandel port and late harvest zinfandel.

"Not much, but it's plenty good."

Blue Belly is located 9 1/2 miles east of Santa Margarita, California. Elevation is 2,040 feet and it sits on decomposed granite.

Owner and Winemaker,

Mike Knodl