Over a 100 years ago, the first known woman wine grower in California, Dona Marcelina Felix Dominguez, grew Mission vines on her Santa Barbara property. The vines survived, and when Deborah Hall and her late husband, William, brought the property in 1994, they discovered these vines under a heavy cover of brush. They originally thought the vines were Zinfandel, and sold them as such to other vintners. DNA testing at University of California Davis later revealed that they were Mission vines. Mission vines were brought into California in 1767 by Spanish Padres from Mexico who established a chain of missions from San Diego to Sonoma from 1767 to 1833. Deborah’s ancient Mission vineyard of three acres is part of only ten acres still growing in California.

Novy Cellars is owned by Adam & Dianna Lee (of Siduri Wines) and Dianna’s family (her parents, Adolph & Rose Marie Novy, and her brothers and sisters-in-law, David & Angela, Bryan & Kathy, and Steven & Marie Novy).

Miro Tcholakov was born and raised in Northern Bulgaria, a region with many millennia of winemaking history. He was exposed to wine and wine making at a very early age from his grandfather who taught him how to make wine in the old tradition that had been tested through generations.

The story of Relic is fundamentally the story of Mike Hirby and Schatzi Throckmorton. Their paths crossed in Napa Valley in 2000: Mike had recently relocated to Calistoga after managing the wine program at the innovative restaurant Primitivo in Colorado Springs for two years. His interest in wine had begun during his senior year at Colorado College, and his time at Primitivo intensified his passion for winemaking. Schatzi had arrived in the area the year before, inspired by her great uncle to take a gap year between her studies in African History at Northwestern University and a graduate program at Cambridge. Both were employed at Behrens & Hitchcock Winery—Mike working in the cellar and Schatzi in the office. Through numerous shared meals and wine tastings at Behrens, they discovered a mutual appreciation for similar wine styles. The influence of the Behrens/Drinkward/Hitchcock team was crucial; their vibrant, passionate environment provided the backdrop for the emergence of Relic. Discussions about cherished wines, disliked wines, and fascinating techniques fueled their inspiration, leading them to adopt methods like native yeast fermentation, whole-cluster fermentation, and extended lees aging. These techniques laid the foundation for Relic.

With the support of friends, Mike was introduced to two growers with exceptional vineyards, securing a few tons of Pinot Noir for the 2001 harvest. While still working as the sole employees at Behrens & Hitchcock, they were given the opportunity to produce their first wines with a strict adherence to their ideals: native yeast, native malo, no additions of water or acid, and direct barrel aging. Thus, Relic was born. The couple married in 2005, and Relic continues to be managed with a blend of their individual and shared responsibilities, with Schatzi overseeing the business side and Mike focusing on winemaking, though their roles often overlap.

Growing an Idea

Mike left Behrens in 2002 to become the winemaker at Realm Cellars, while Schatzi remained as the Business Manager at Behrens Family Winery. They were fortunate to produce their wines at Behrens for eight years, during which Relic grew steadily and intentionally, with the aim of remaining an independent winery free from financial partners. This independence allowed them the creative freedom to make bold, uncompromising decisions in winemaking, such as declassifying wines at a financial loss or creating new cuvées based on passion rather than profit. They expanded their production to include Syrah in 2003, which garnered acclaim from a major wine publication, establishing their reputation. Since 2007, their Rhone varietal program has expanded to include heritage varietals from Napa Valley, reflecting their commitment to preserving traditional winemaking practices.

The Fire

In the midst of the 2005 harvest, Mike was at the winery handling evening cap management when he received a distressing call about a devastating fire at the case goods warehouse on Mare Island, south of Napa. The shock was immediate, but there was little they could do but focus on the wines until morning. The following day revealed the extent of the damage: Relic had lost its library and half of its 2004 vintage, which had been shipped a month earlier. This disaster served as a stark reminder of the limitations of their insurance and the severity of their loss. Faced with the choice to either continue their small-scale project or fully commit to making Relic their primary endeavor, they chose the latter. Fifteen years later, they continue to thrive, driven by their dedication and resilience.