
Terah Bajjalieh
Terah Wine Co.
Ramato 2020
Characteristics
Acidity
Body
Umami
Production Notes
With her “Ramato,” Terah draws upon the wine traditions of Friuli, where skin-contact Pinot Grigio (aka Pinot Gris) is a way of life. The grapes were sourced from the organically farmed Bassi Vineyard — a 2.9 acre site located less than two miles from San Luis Obispo’s craggy coast. The whole grape clusters were lightly foot tread, initiating a native yeast fermentation and four-day maceration (two gentle punch downs per day). The wine was aged for 10 months in a mix of neutral French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Unfined and unfiltered. 35 cases produced. 12.5% abv.
Despite her impressive resume — BS in finance from San Jose State University, master’s degree in enology and viticulture from France’s Montpellier SupAgro, level three WSET certification, level two certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers — Terah Bajjalieh operates with the barebones grace and startling sincerity of someone who learned to make wine in a dream, not in a classroom. Terah’s strength is her feel for texture. While most winemakers view skin-contact as strictly binary (reds have it, whites don’t), Terah sees it as a sliding scale — and a bridge to endless exploration. It also allows her to push back on our conventional notions of wine type and to find beauty between the lines. Terah works with organic and biodynamic vineyards, choosing partners who emphasize environmental and social responsibility. Her approach is equally empirical and intuitive — she’s just as likely to conduct a trial as she is to listen to her heart. And as anyone whose tried her wines will tell you, her approach has paid off.

Terah Wine Co.
San Luis Obispo, CA