Meet the Winemaker

Dalton Hirsh was destined to make wine. A thinker and explorer, Dalton spends his time in unwavering pursuit of the senses. At the age of 19, he won his first professional wine competition. His Cabernet Sauvignon Aida earned a Silver medal at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, making him the youngest winemaker ever to win such praise. Since then, he has been experimenting relentlessly, crafting small-scale wines from the most outlandish of varietals, testing new and exciting oenological techniques, and blending unconventional and unique styles. The accolades continue to accumulate, and he's not slowing down. Working at the helm of Abraxas Winery, he promises to craft new, unexpected, and spectacular wines each and every vintage.

Our beginning

During his freshman year, Dalton Hirsh, an enology student, decided to craft a single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wine. He purchased grapes from Napa Valley and began his experiment. Using glass and stainless steel tanks for primary and malolactic fermentation, he finished with a fourteen-month rest in new French oak barrels. Upon tasting, it was clear he had created something truly special. The bottles were shared with mentors, friends, and family. A professor encouraged him to submit the wine to the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, a professional commercial wine competition held every year in California. Three bottles were entered, and the anticipation grew.

A few months later, while returning from an evening performance of Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, the results were in! The wine, which came to be called Aida after that fateful night, had won a Silver Medal! The success of Aida encouraged Dalton to open Abraxas Winery, and our flagship label was born!

Of the name Abraxas, Dalton says: “My favorite author growing up was Hermann Hesse. In his book Demian, the teenage protagonist searches for an elusive higher purpose. He becomes obsessed with a Gnostic figure named ABRAXAS. To Hesse's Emil Sinclair, Abraxas is the highest personal challenge, representing the passage from ordinary to sublime. For me, wine is the noblest achievement. It is the most sacred poetry. When human artistry meets Mother Nature, wine is born. It is the hallowed union between human expression and Earth’s natural beauty.”

My wines are an extension of myself, my passion. I give utmost attention to each drop that passes through my hands. I take great pride in my craft, and I hope my dedication is apparent in every bottle.

In Vino Veritas!

-Dalton Hirsh, Winemaker