Idlewild Flora & Fauna White North Coast 2022

We really enjoyed meeting Sam Bilbro and tasting his naturally-made, unique (yet wildly sensible) California wines. We have carried Marietta Cellars for decades, and hearing about his 'Blue Collar Wine Childhood' and how it shaped the man and winemaker he became was truly fascinating. In his own words:

'I grew up hanging out in a winery converted from an old cow barn, walking vineyards, and tasting blends with my dad. Later, while in the restaurant industry, I was exposed to wines from across the globe and was especially struck by the wines of Italy’s Piedmont. Learning natural systems and the world of wine in general was my route to making wine and starting Idlewild. I was also fortunate to have many friends and family to learn from along the way. As Idlewild has grown, I have had the great fortune of building a team who I feel so lucky to work alongside. When your coworkers feel like your family, something is working right.

Thomas DeBiase is our resident encyclopedia. Whether it be hard to find Italian wines, vintage sneakers, or Tiki mugs, he has a story and a collection. Courtney Humiston keeps things sparkling. Whether it be her vast knowledge of Champagne or her warm smile and sense of hospitality, she makes the tasting room feel like home. Mike Dmytrenko laughs from his guts and has an unflinching heart. He has a magic combination of care for the details while being able to bang out the big projects that keeps the winery running. Emilia and Hudson are the kids, as well as my inspiration and joy. It’s funny how life seems to work in circles: these two are now walking vineyards and tasting blends with me.' -Sam Bilbro

The 2022 Flora & Fauna (aka The Bee) white shows depth of flavor while retaining a very moderate weight and a lithe finish. With a balance of florals (orange blossoms), minerals (wet stones), citrus (lemon peel), and orchard fruit (pear), just when the wine starts to feel intense in its phenolics and aromatics, the palate turns to this near rain water-like lightness with a crisp and clean finish.  

Flora and Fauna loosely means the collection of plant and animal life in a certain epoch. In Sam's version, it is the collection of grape varieties from the cellar that make up the blend for the year. In 2022, this white is mostly Arneis, with a beautiful blend of other Piemontese white varieties including Muscat Canelli, Cortese, Favorita and Erbaluce.