Since 2013 our mission has been to find great wines of great value that are ready to drink tonight.
You have never heard of Prieto Picudo. We’re pretty confident of that. So let’s give you some choices. Prieto Picudo is:
A. An earthquake fault in Alaska.
B. A Chilean seafood dish.
C. The President of Panama.
D. A rare, dark-skinned red grape grown mainly in the León region of northern Spain, but with roughly 10 acres grown near Lodi, and the protagonist of our December wine of the month profile.
Okay, we’re like the teacher who gives easy quizzes; you wouldn’t be reading this if D wasn’t the correct answer. And the 2022 Workshop Cellars Prieto Picudo Mokelumne River is our December wine of the month.
Now let’s talk about the man behind this unicorn of a wine: Andrew Harwood, owner and winemaker of Workshop Cellars. Andrew is one of those maddeningly talented, relentlessly curious winemakers who treats California’s underdog varieties the way some people treat their rescue dogs—total devotion, zero ego, and all heart. After years exploring the breadth of California’s vineyards, he developed a passion for small-batch wines with soul, character, and just a little bit of rebellion. Workshop Cellars is the natural extension of that ethos: a tiny, creativity-first winery where craftsmanship rules the day and every wine tells a story. Prieto Picudo was never the “safe” choice, which is exactly why Andrew had to make it.
He also brings that same passion to education through NYC Wine Company, where he teaches a wide range of approachable, engaging, and legitimately fun wine classes. His students will tell you he has a gift for making complex wine concepts feel effortless—and for turning even the most obscure grape varieties (hello, Prieto Picudo) into something exciting, understandable, and worth seeking out. It’s no wonder his classes fill up quickly: Andrew makes learning about wine feel like a great night out rather than a lecture.
So just how rare is the Prieto Picudo that Andrew made? It’s so rare in the Golden State that the California Grape Crush Report clocked only 4.4 tons crushed in 2022—compared to 566,935 tons of Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2024, the grand total for Prieto Picudo crushed in California was: zero. Zilch. The big, fat goose egg. If this variety had a Tinder profile, it would simply read: “It’s complicated. And also nearly nonexistent.”
So how does this obscure northern Spanish grape thrive in the Mokelumne River AVA? Simple: the site quietly provides everything it loves. The region’s famously deep, sandy loam soils give Prieto Picudo the drainage it thrives on. The warm, sun-drenched days help the grape develop its inky color and intense aromatics, while the Delta breezes sweep through at night, dropping temperatures and preserving the grape’s naturally high acidity.
The 2022 growing season in Mokelumne River proved especially well suited for Prieto Picudo. A warm, dry spring led to excellent fruit set, followed by a consistently hot summer that pushed the grape toward full phenolic ripeness—exactly what this variety needs to develop its signature dark-fruited depth. Crucially, the region’s reliable nighttime cooling prevented the acidity from dropping, letting the wine retain its snap, vibrancy, and structure. The result? Fruit that was ripe, concentrated, and beautifully balanced—prime conditions for turning this Spanish rarity into a California standout.
The 2022 Workshop Cellars Prieto Picudo Mokelumne River pours a deep purple—not quite as opaque as some of California’s blockbuster Cabs, but still richly pigmented and vibrant in the glass. Enough so to announce: Yes, I work out. Its glass-coating viscosity hints at the wine’s generosity and concentration. Aromas follow with a rush of Morello cherry coulis, blood orange, pomegranate, and lavender, all wrapped in savory tones of black pepper, clove, and a wisp of mezcal smoke. On the palate, the grape’s signature high acid and tannin show up fully integrated—serious structure without a single rough edge. A hint of neutral oak pulls everything into focus on the finish. The wine is medium-plus in body with pronounced intensity, and it opens gorgeously with air, becoming bigger, deeper, and more complex with every minute in the glass.
For years, Peninsula Underground has championed wines just like this: small-production, risk-taking, conversation-starting bottles made by winemakers willing to swim against the Cabernet current. We love Cab, sure—but we love discovery more. And this wine is discovery in a bottle.
Best of all, at just $30.00, this wine is a phenomenal value. Buy as much as you can because it’s rare, it’s delicious, and it’s the kind of bottle that instantly elevates your wine credibility. I mean, anyone can serve a Cab. But how many of your friends have ever tasted Prieto Picudo? Our December wine of the month isn’t just a pick. It’s a flex.
So as we wrap up this profile, we leave you with one more multiple-choice question—extra credit this time:
Choosing the 2022 Workshop Cellars Prieto Picudo Mokelumne River makes you:
A. Someone who enjoys obscure, delicious things.
B. A friend others trust with wine recommendations.
C. A person with excellent taste and even better instincts.
D. All of the above.
If you’ve been paying attention, you already know the answer.
Learn more about Workshop Cellars and purchase their wine, and learn more about NYC Wine Company and sign up for a class, here:
https://www.workshopcellars.com
@WorkshopCellars
https://nycwinecompany.com
@NYCWineCompany
