Meet Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse of Birdhorse Wines
Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse are the founders of Birdhorse Wines, a small but impactful winery rooted in a shared vision for the future of California winemaking. The two met while pursuing their Master’s degrees in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis and quickly bonded over their desire to push boundaries and bring new varietals to the forefront of the wine industry. Their brand, Birdhorse Wines, was born from a mutual drive to diversify the wine world, both in terms of the grapes they work with and the people they highlight, making their wines not just a beverage, but a statement.
Birdhorse Wines prides itself on working with lesser-known varietals, such as Verdelho, Valdiguié, and Carignan, sourced from sustainable vineyards in regions like Suisun Valley and Mendocino. By focusing on varietals often overlooked by the mainstream wine industry, Katie and Corinne are able to create wines that are distinct, expressive, and complex, offering consumers something new and exciting with every bottle. Their approach to winemaking is grounded in sustainability and minimal intervention, reflecting their commitment to creating wines that are as pure and true to their origins as possible.
Corinne Rich
Corinne Rich was born and raised in Sonoma County, California, to parents who were passionate wine consumers but had no direct ties to the wine industry. After earning a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, Corinne initially worked in pharmaceutical research but quickly realized her heart was in winemaking. She gained practical experience working harvests across regions like Willamette Valley, New Zealand, and Australia before returning to California to pursue winemaking full-time. Currently, Corinne also works as the assistant winemaker at Scribe Winery in Sonoma, balancing her role there with her passion project, Birdhorse Wines.
Katie Rouse
Katie Rouse grew up in California’s Central Valley, where agriculture was a way of life. Her love for the land and her interest in viticulture were sparked early on, leading her to pursue hands-on experience in vineyards both in the U.S. and abroad, including New Zealand and South Africa. Katie’s practical knowledge of vineyard management, combined with her studies at UC Davis, equipped her with the expertise to craft wines that are not only unique but also reflective of the diverse terroirs they source from. She currently balances her work at Bedrock Wine Co. with her role at Birdhorse, where her dedication to sustainability and innovation drives the winemaking process.
Looking to the future, Corinne and Katie have big plans for Birdhorse Wines. While Birdhorse is currently a side hustle, they aim to eventually make it their full-time focus, continuing to push the boundaries of what California wine can be. Their long-term vision includes expanding their involvement in sustainable farming and continuing to introduce wine drinkers to lesser-known grape varietals. At the core of their mission is a belief that wine should be inclusive and approachable, and they are excited to keep breaking new ground, both in the wines they produce and the conversations they inspire.
