Wildlife Reserve in San Diego Produces Honey-Based and Kosher Wine

By Rivkah Katz

In the foothills of San Diego, a 63-acre wildlife reserve is home to the Pearson Brothers’ Winery. Dale Pearson, who runs the boutique winery, is a renaissance man of sorts. He is a military contract diver, inventor, and saxophone player. His brother, Michael Pearson, serves as a flight rescue medic in addition to co-founding the winery.

Dale and his brother experimented with cultivating different wines for years.

“People think that wine is made from grapes, but there are many kinds of wines,” Dale stressed. With their mother as taste-tester, in 2010 the brothers began experimenting with honey, attempting to produce grapeless wine. It took approximately three years, but the work was worthwhile. The brothers were awed by the outcome of their in-house honey wine— a hint of citrus with a smooth, dry vanilla finish. “When we hit the right honey blend, we knew we nailed it.”

Unlike grape-based wine, Saccharo wine, which is sugar-derived, can be manufactured in a natural environment. Dale did not want to replace the wildlife on his acres for vineyards and was drawn by the benefits of producing Sacharro wine. The Saccaro wine is an eco-friendly and environmentally conscious product. “All I need is a beehive with bees to extract nectar from the wildlife,” Dale explains. “This allows me to produce the wine anywhere; even in Central Park.”

“My attitude through the process was that either I do it well, or I don’t do it all.” Dale’s results speak to the former. Dale and Michael started by replicating grape juice using GMO-free wildflower honey as a base, along with other natural ingredients like sugar cane, orange zest, and vanilla. The blend was then fermented with high-quality champagne, creating a non-perishable, 100% natural, handcrafted beverage. His wine has the nutritional value and flavor profile of grape wine, yet it is honey-based.

In 2015, the Pearson Brothers’ Winery received federal approval. After a trial run with a large wine distributor in 2017, Dale resumed his business as a boutique winery in 2019.

Another big step for the Pearson Brothers’ Winery came through a suggestion from a Jewish friend. “While talking business, he mentioned that my wine can be kosher. This was a great idea because my wine is a great addition to the apples and honey for the High Holidays. My Jewish friends could partake in my tastings, and I could sell my wine in Israel. I felt like it opened new horizons for my business.”

Dale researched Kosher certification agencies until he came across OK Kosher. The Pearson Brothers’ Winery is now certified under the OK and is supervised by Rabbi Shlomo Klein, the OK’s West Coast Rabbinic Coordinator.

“This experience was unique,” recounts Rabbi Klein. “It’s not every day that you see a wildlife reserve producing honey-based wine where production from beginning to end is done by the brothers.”

From a Kashrus standpoint, Saccharo wine does not require the scrupulousness of grape wine. In this regard, Saccharo wine is like any other beverage. The ingredients need to be kosher, but gentiles can be involved in the process. Additionally, although it’s an alcoholic beverage, Saccharo wine does not maintain grape-wine status for Kiddush on which the blessing of “Hagafen” is said. To ensure no one errs with this, the label clearly states that its blessing is “Shehakol.”

Until Covid-19 hit, the winery was open for family visits and tastings. Dale looks forward to reopening his winery for visitors. In the meantime, the Pearson Brothers’ Wine is available for online purchasing.

“I feel like I made my mark,” Dale reflects on his work. “I am touched by people who have supported my brainchild, noticing the uniqueness of my environment-friendly, handcrafted delicacy. I am thankful to call my winery Kosher which enables my product to cater to more people.”

As for Dale, he can just see it as a staple in Jewish homes. “Apples, honey, and Sacharro wine.”

 

For more info, visit pearsonbroswinery.com