SIX CLOVES: 10TH VINTAGE CELEBRATION 
| THE ALDER SPRINGS TRIBUTE 
| JAPANESE HERITAGE X CALIFORNIA 
HAPPY VINDEPENDENCE DAY, EVERYONE! 
Welcome to Six Cloves! Whether you are a longtime regular or discovering my wines for the very first time, I am absolutely thrilled to share this day with you.
As an independent winemaker, I still handcraft a very small, focused production—just shy of 500 cases annually. Every single lot is a labor of love, crafted with minimal intervention to ensure the beautiful vineyards I work with can truly shine in your glass.
For those interested in a deeper dive into my story, you can read my recent feature here: Bold Journey 
Or, if you prefer to listen to how I approach my craft, you can check out my recent podcast interview here: The Wine Makers 
Enjoy the incredible offers from Six Cloves and all the other amazing producers celebrating VinDependence Day today. If you are ready to dive right in, you can jump straight to my specials below!
THANK YOU! SALES WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST
As things quiet down for the evening, I am officially wrapping up my time on the forum for this event.
I will be leaving the checkout links for the $175 Zin & Beni Bonus Sets and our core selections open until Midnight PST tonight. If you want to sneak in a last-minute order before the clock strikes twelve, you still have time!
I want to extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to everyone who grabbed some wine and supported Six Cloves during these Vindependence days. Your support means the world to a small, minimal-intervention winery like mine.
I cannot wait for you all to pop these bottles and enjoy them with your family and friends this summer.
Cheers, and have a wonderful night! 
CLICK HERE TO SHOP BEFORE MIDNIGHT
A Tribute to Alder Springs Vineyard
As many returning customers know, my Alder Springs Vineyard wines from Mendocino have been a highly sought-after staple of my portfolio. This magnificent high-elevation site has been meticulously farmed by Stuart Bewley for 33 years, but he has recently decided to say farewell to farming. This marks my last vintage of Alder Springs.
For those who follow Northern California viticulture, Alder Springs is known as one of the most popular growers for geeky winemakers who want to make something different and exciting. This perfectly matched my own winemaking philosophy: crafting unique wines with a “Japanese taste” profile—relatively drier, with elegant and subtle flavors. Their grapes have been a perfect fit for Six Cloves.
A perfect example of this is the very special white wine I source from this site: Petite Arvine. Often called the “Diva” of Swiss grapes, this noble, capricious variety is native to Switzerland and is known for being unique and challenging to grow. It thrives in Alder Springs’ Alpine-like conditions, maintaining a beautiful, lively freshness and robust ripeness that creates a truly complex, vibrant wine.
It is bittersweet, as I have just started gaining real traction in the Japanese market, where these wines are being warmly received by many accomplished sommeliers and wine professionals. This release is my tribute to the incredible Alder Springs Vineyard. Grab these wines while they are still in the market—once they are gone, they are truly gone! 
VINDEPENDENCE DAYS OFFERS
Offer 1: Six Cloves Omakase 2.0 Selection
For VinDependence Day, I have curated a completely new journey through the cellar, three bottles that capture the essential styles of Six Cloves: subtle, elegant, and savory. Trust the winemaker, let me select 3 surprise bottles for you!
- 2025 Alder Springs Vineyard Petite Arvine x 1
- 2023 Castanon Vineyard Zinfandel, Mendocino County x 1
- 2024 Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir x 1
- Winemaker’s Secret Selections x 3 (Hidden for the Omakase experience!)
Retail Value + Shipping: Up to $395
VinDependence Special: $265 — Shipping Included
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE OMAKASE 2.0 SELECTION
Offer 2: The Michelin & Chez Panisse Reds 6-Pack (Zin & Beni ChĹŤji)
The ultimate bright, food-friendly, easy-drinking half-case, featuring two wines recognized by some of the most prestigious dining rooms in the world. You get three bottles of my umami-driven “happy vine” Zinfandel, which was recently selected by Tokyo’s 3-star Michelin restaurant, L’Effervescence. Alongside it are three bottles of the freshly bottled Beni Chōji red blend (now featuring gorgeous Grenache). The Beni Chōji is so perfectly balanced it is currently proudly poured at Berkeley’s legendary Chez Panisse. This pack is a rare chance to bring these globally celebrated, gastronomic wines right to your own table to enjoy casually with friends and family.
- 2023 Castanon Vineyard Zinfandel, Mendocino County x 3
- 2025 Beni ChĹŤji Red Blend 2.0 x 3
Retail Value + Shipping: $300
VinDependence Special: $200 — Shipping Included
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE ZIN & BENI CHOJI 6-PACK
Offer 3: The “Rare Whites & Happy Reds” 6-Pack
Two wines, endless pairings. The Petite Arvine’s bright acidity and minerality make it a natural with Asian dishes, while the Zinfandel’s savory, umami driven character carries you right through to pizza night.
- 2025 Alder Springs Vineyard Petite Arvine x 3
- 2023 Castanon Vineyard Zinfandel, Mendocino County x 3
Retail Value + Shipping: $309
VinDependence Special: $200 — Shipping Included
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE RARE WHITES & HAPPY REDS 6-PACK
Offer 4: The “Elegant Classics” 6-Pack
Curated for those who love prestige varietals without the prestige markup. This set pairs our vibrant Chardonnay with our pedigree Alder Springs Pinot Noir for an elegant, food-friendly lineup.
- 2024 Linda Vista Vineyards Chardonnay x 3
- 2024 Alder Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir x 3
Retail Value + Shipping: $408
VinDependence Special: $270 — Shipping Included
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE ELEGANT CLASSICS 6-PACK
JOIN THE CONVERSATION & WIN!
VD Milestone Game! To keep the 10th-vintage celebration going, I am resetting the clock for today! I will be slipping a secret library bottle into the boxes of the **10th, 20th and 30th buyers during VinDependence Days ** who post their order confirmation or say hello in this thread! Drop a comment when your order is in so I can track your spot! 
A Question for the Berserker Palate: This marks my final vintage with the legendary Alder Springs Vineyard. For those who have followed my journey over these 10 vintages: what has been your favorite bottle or food pairing with my food-friendly styles?
Drop your pairing ideas, tasting memories, or cellar notes below—I’ll be active in the thread all day answering your questions! Let’s talk wine! 
SHIPPING & LOGISTICS:
States: We ship to 47 states (Excluding UT. Inquire for AK/HI rates) by FedEx or GLS GROUND. If you’re in AK or HI and want to place an order, please reach out to me at shirabayashi@sixcloveswines.com or comment on this thread. I’ll do my best to accommodate your request!
Timing: Due to summer temperatures and the upcoming harvest season, shipping will not begin until sometime in September, as harvest work allows. We aim to complete all shipping by the end of October. (Note: Since some offers include new releases, shipment may be timed with spring bottling schedules).
Pro-Tip: “Business addresses are highly recommended” for smoother delivery. Also note that if you are sending to our friendly neighbors or family, please remember to provide their names! Don’t forget your apartment numbers, etc., since couriers are getting so picky and charge us 2x of shipment for redelivery attempts!
Insurance: The cost of grapes and materials continues to rise, but I’ve worked hard to maintain similar discounts to those offered by other participating wineries. To help manage costs, shipments will be sent uninsured unless you request insurance (available at cost).
DETAILED SIX CLOVES WINE LIST & REVIEWS
CHARDONNAY & PETITTE ARVINE
- 2020 Linda Vista Vineyards (Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley) Chardonnay: Flavor profile of toasted nuts and Granny Smith apples with high-toned acidity reflecting the unique Olmo clone. [CT 92 pts]
- 2021 Alder Springs Vineyard (Mendocino County) Chardonnay: High-altitude terroir shines with aromas of white flowers and tangerine zest, finishing with vibrant Meyer lemon acidity. [WE 94 pts]
- 2022 Linda Vista Vineyards (Napa Valley) Chardonnay: A warmer vintage showcasing bright pink grapefruit acidity, hints of guava, and a creamy, round finish. [WE 90 pts]
- 2023 Linda Vista Vineyards (Napa Valley) Chardonnay: Highlights the Olmo clone’s authenticity with balanced citrus and minerality from a cool vintage. [CT 91 pts]
- 2024 Linda Vista Vineyards (Napa Valley) Chardonnay: Crisp acidity and expressive citrus notes from the Olmo clone, aged in French oak to enhance texture. [CT 95 pts]
- 2025 Alder Springs Vineyard (Mendocino) Petite Arvine: Planted in fewer than 1,000 acres worldwide, and California has only a couple of known vineyard sources. Our fruit comes from Alder Springs Vineyard, one of the rare California sites for this alpine variety. Enjoy unique alpine white with high acidity and a wonderful flavor of young stone fruit character with a hint of kiwi and pineapple. NEW!
PINOT NOIR
- 2021 Alder Springs Vineyard (Mendocino County): Features silky tannins, savory umami, and elegant coastal forest aromas from a mix of destemmed and whole-cluster fermentation. [WE 94 pts]
- 2022 Buf-Wehr Ranch (Russian River Valley): Offers red fruit flavors, rosemary, and thyme aromas with lingering clove spice from a small organic vineyard. [WE 90 pts]
- 2023 Buf-Wehr Ranch (Russian River Valley): Cooler vintage expression offering bright red fruit, savory spice notes, and earthy complexity. [WE 94 pts]
- 2024 Alder Springs Vineyard (Mendocino): High-elevation freshness with spice and dark fruit character from a blend of clones including 459 and Swan. [CT Review by fellow Berserkers]
- 2025 Alder Springs Vineyard (Mendocino): Same, all high-elevation freshness and complexity driven from 4 different clones of Swan, Calera, Pommard & 459. NEW!
ZINFANDEL & OTHER REDS
- 2022 Castanon Vineyards Zinfandel (Redwood Valley, Mendocino County): Fresh and approachable claret-style Zinfandel with flavors of strawberries and mocha balanced by medium acidity. [WE 92 pts]
- 2023 Castanon Vineyards Zinfandel (Mendocino): Reflects Redwood Valley’s red soils with flavors of red berries and subtle spice, highlighted by partial whole-cluster fermentation. [WE 90 pts]
- 2024 Storn Barn Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley): Classic Sonoma Valley expression with layers of red and dark fruits, softened tannins, and a silky texture.[CT Review by fellow Berserkers]
- 2025 Beni Choji Rouge Red Blend (North Coast/CA): Pinot and Grenache from highly praised vineyards including Alder Spring Vineyard of Mendocino County. Fresh and easy-drinking wine pairs well with many foods.[CT Review]
The Roots of Six Cloves: Mountain Soul & California Soil
A Heritage in Fermentation My journey did not start in a vineyard—it began in a corporate accounting office in New York City. However, my soul was always rooted in the art of fermentation. Growing up in Nagano, Japan, I was raised among fourth-generation apple farmers and traditional artisans of sake, miso, and soy sauce. That heritage of “Mountain Soul” and extreme, quiet precision eventually pulled me away from the CPA track.
From the Calculator to the Cellar Trading my calculator for a punch-down tool, I fully immersed myself in the world of winemaking. I earned my degree from UC Davis and honed my craft working alongside legendary minimal-intervention mentors like Steve Matthiasson and Ted Lemon of Littorai. These experiences reinforced my belief in allowing the vineyard to speak for itself.
The Meaning of “Six Cloves” The name Six Cloves is a direct tribute to my family’s century-old medicinal herb business in Japan. Their traditional logo was a six-petaled clove flower, a symbol representing balance, healing, and nature. Today, I apply that exact same search for balance to California fruit. My winemaking philosophy is an ongoing pursuit to bridge delicate Japanese elegance with the vibrant, sunny expressions of California’s finest vineyards.
My Winemaking Philosophy I make “Gastronomic Wines” in the truest sense. I favor vibrant, lower-alcohol, and food-friendly profiles. I am deeply honored that my wines have earned spots at the 2-Michelin Star 
Harbor House Inn in California, Chez Panisse in Berkeley, and most recently with Smith & Wollensky in Ginza, Tokyo.
Whether it is my “miracle” Pinot and Grenache Beni Chōji blend or my happy vine Zinfandel, these wines are crafted to be elegant, nuanced, and shared over a meal with people. I am a small, independent producer, and your support here is what allows me to keep this cross-cultural dream alive.
THE AFTERTHOUGHT
I can’t thank you enough for participating in VinDependence Days. 2026 will mark my 10th vintage with Six Cloves, a milestone that feels both surreal and deeply rewarding.
But today is about more than just my own milestone; it is about this incredible community. For small, independent producers, finding a space to connect directly with passionate wine lovers is a rare gift. Wine Berserkers provides that home!
By being here, you give a voice to artisans who farm their own grapes and drive their own trucks. You are the reason real, handcrafted wine continues to thrive in California and beyond. On behalf of all the small producers filling up your feed today: thank you for your curiosity, your support, and for keeping our dreams alive.
With deepest gratitude,
Kampai!
Sonoe Hirabayashi
Six Cloves Wines
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HEADS UP: OUR FIRST FLASH SALE DROPS AT 11:00 AM PST!