Stirm Wine Company Cabernet Pfeffer is a rare varietal red wine from the Cienega Valley appellation in San Benito County, California. Cabernet Pfeffer is an heirloom grape variety that has found one of its last remaining homes in the limestone-rich soils of the Cienega Valley, where it produces concentrated, expressive fruit from a bygone era of California viticulture.

The grapes are sourced from old-vine, dry-farmed, organically grown bush vines planted over a century ago. The vineyard sits in the same calcite-laden limestone country as the famed Wirz Vineyard, with ample sunshine that allows the old vines to yield intensely flavored, concentrated fruit. The wine is made in a traditional, minimalist style: hand-harvested grapes are sorted whole cluster into redwood fermenters for extended maceration with twice-daily pumpovers, then pressed to settling tanks before aging in old barrels on fine lees. The wine is unfined and unfiltered, preserving its full natural character.

With a bone-dry profile (0.0 g/L residual sugar), bright acidity (6.5 g/L TA), a pH of 3.45, and a measured 12.8% alcohol by volume, this is a structured yet approachable wine. Total SO2 is kept to a minimum at 33 ppm. Production is extremely limited, making it a distinctive find for lovers of heritage California varieties sold through Costco in 750ML bottles (case of 12).