The story of the 2026 vintage in Russian River Valley is written in small berries. At Bacigalupi Vineyards, the family finished picking some blocks by mid-September, and small clusters usually mean one thing: concentration in the glass.
Bacigalupi has been growing grapes in Russian River Valley since 1956. Three generations later, the family still farms its Westside Road vineyards, with Nicole Bacigalupi guiding the winery as general manager. This is exactly the kind of place our series looks for — a family whose name is on the land, not just the label.
A harvest worth tasting the story of
Early reports from the 2026 vintage describe an unusually early harvest across California, with some Russian River Valley vineyards finished weeks ahead of schedule. At Bacigalupi, the berries and clusters came in small — and small berries typically give Pinot Noir more depth and structure. This is a vintage readers can taste the story of in a year or two, which is why we are flagging it now: the best time to meet a winery is while the vintage is still unfolding.
The weekend plan
We would fold Bacigalupi into a Russian River Valley day. Start with a tasting, then drive the Westside Road corridor — this is some of the prettiest vineyard scenery in the county. Pair it with something completely different the next morning: warm bread from a wood-fired oven out in Freestone (see our Wild Flour Bread feature).