The Blackthorn Lore
There are a lot of whispers and legends of secret societies like Blackthorn.
Lore of underground groups that would meet in dark rooms and candle lit bars to sip and talk freely. Some say this tradition dates as far back as the Roman Empire, or that certain groups had ties to the Paris Underground and of course the meetings that would pop up during Prohibition in the United States. Other legends claim societies like these were founded by women, witches and rulebreakers that wanted a safe space to enjoy wine without the comments or standards of society.
There are lots of legends and rumors and whispers.
The truth is no one really knows for sure. These societies, assuming they existed, thrived on secrecy and silence is the watchword to this day.
But whether the secret societies of the past are real or not, Blackthorn exists because wine was never meant to be controlled. It was never meant to be hoarded by collectors, analyzed to death by critics, or turned into a sterile, rule-bound industry.
Wine is rebellion. It is joy, chaos, ritual, and defiance in a bottle.
Blackthorn was founded to return wine to the people—to those who drink with curiosity, passion, and a refusal to conform.
We founded Blackthorn because we love wine. We want to talk about wine and learn about different regions and producers. We’re truly wine nerds through and through. But at the same time, we were becoming increasingly disheartened by how wine is marketed, talked about and shared. Even as members of the wine industry there are still aspects that made us feel like we weren’t worthy, didn’t know enough of the correct buzzwords, didn’t have enough money to compete or weren’t quite funky enough to hang with the natural wine crowd. And that’s coming from two people who have a combined 25+ years of experience and knowledge working in all different aspects of the wine industry.
So if we could feel like that, the average wine consumer doesn’t really stand a chance right?
Blackthorn helps curious, rebellious wine lovers who feel alienated by the snobbery and gatekeeping of traditional wine culture. It offers an inclusive, story-driven alternative that blends wine education with mystery, ritual, and myth—inviting members into a secret society where learning is fun, intuitive, and a little bit subversive.
Meet the People of Blackthorn
Allie
Allie grew up in the wine industry and with a family that enjoyed drinking about talking about wine. She has been working in the wine industry since the age of 21. She spent most of her time working and managing tasting rooms in the Santa Barbara area to running wine clubs.
Allie also makes wine with a group of friends known as The Pagan Brothers, organizes local tasting groups and is a sommelier.
Julie
Julie began to be interested in wine in her early 20s and embarked on a journey to learn as much as possible. From picking the brains of wine shop employees and tasting room staff to trying as many different wines as she could get her hands on. She then started working in tasting rooms herself and finally went to Switzerland to get her degree in Viticulture and Enology.
Julie has since worked harvest at different wineries around the world for the past decade. She is a winemaker in her own right, a sommelier and has worked as a wine buying for wine shops in the past.
Esme
Esme is timeless. No one knows how long she has been at Blackthorn or where she was before that. Mostly because she gives a different answer every time someone asks her. A little mystery she makes up as she goes.
She is the resident mystic and witch, she is often seen at a table in the corner with her tarot cards or rummaging through the archives to find supplies for her next ritual. She often has deep insights but occasionally speaks very cryptically. She is also known for being a bit spacy, though whenever caught she claims she is just communing with the spirits.
She is constantly seen with a full wine glass in her hand, but she is often drinking something different than the rest and no one seems to know where she gets it or where she keeps her stash, which really frustrates Lucien.
Harold is her best friend, but they occasionally get into fights about what is happening in the spirit world.
Cybil
Cybil is very serious and just a bit persnickety, especially when it comes to how people handle the books and everything else hiding in The Vault. But really that’s just on the surface. She is actually very funny, with a dry, witty and slightly dark sense of humor.
And because she is in charge of the archive and the Vault, Cybil knows…A LOT - History, people’s lies, ancient wine vintages, spells and any and all past Blackthorn gossip. Though you have to know what to ask for because Cybil is notoriously tight lipped and guards the Blackthorn Vault fiercely.
She is never not found at Blackthorn, often in the depths of the vault and rumor has it she sleeps there. But she does like to hang out in the main room at the end of the night to enjoy a glass or two while keeping an eye on the new initiates.
Once you join Blackthorn Cybil sends out curated information from the Vault every month. But her prized possession, an ancient tome with the title “The Leger of Vanishing Things” is always by her side and no one, not even the founders, know what’s inside.
Sabine
Sabine is Blackthorn’s resident winemaker, herbalist, alchemist basically all around mad scientist. She is an expert in both traditional winemaking and experimental practices, always trying to push the boundaries of what is possible. But she doesn’t stop with just wine, she is also a trained herbalist and is always mixing up different tinctures and teas. And she is doing something in one of the back rooms with a giant cauldron that often involves explosions and smoke but won’t tell anyone exactly what she is up to because it’s not ready yet.
She is known for carrying around a journal of her failed experiments that she considers her prized possession. Sybil keeps trying to get her to add it to the Vault but Sabine refuses. And even if it were added to the Vault, chances are no one would be able to read it as her notes are always a mix of multiple languages, symbols and some sort of code no one has been able to crack yet.
Sabine is always the life of the party. She loves to share her wine, tinctures, teas and other concoctions with everyone at Blackthorn, even if she won’t always tell you exactly what is in it. One of her favorite tricks is reading your aura and finding the best wine to suit your needs.
She once crafted a special wine that made people dream of the same garden. She’s been trying to replicate it ever since and mysteriously her original notes are missing.
Lucien
Lucien is always impeccably and sometimes extravagantly dressed. He is a former sommelier and (mostly) ex-wine snob who after years working in the industry became increasingly disillusioned with the world of wine. After finding Blackthorn he immediately applied to work behind the bar and has rarely left since.
Lucien tries very hard to be chill now, but sometimes the old Lucien slips out — like aggressively side-eying someone who pronounces "Gewürztraminer" wrong. He must be called out, and he secretly loves being dragged for it.
Lucien is also, mostly fondly, known as Blackthorn’s resident gossip. While Sybil truly knows all she rarely spills the secret. But Lucien picks up a lot from his post behind the bar and would absolutely love to tell you all the drama.
In addition to the normal bar wares Lucien is also known to keep a special bottle of wine made by Sabine for those initiates who are really going through it. He’ll be happy to pour you a glass, in exchange for your story of course. Also secreted away under the bar, a book of snarky tasting notes that he has been compiling for years and is contemplating publishing it under a pseudonym.
Harold
Harold is the Blackthorn’s resident ghost. He doesn’t show himself to everyone but he does like to make his presence known. Harold has existed in this space since long before Blackthorn, but much like Esme he has shared many different stories about what he was like and who he was in life.
Even though Harold was around long before Blackthorn, he is deeply invested. He is constantly hovering near conversations, muttering commentary only a few can hear — especially when gossip’s involved. He and Lucien are in an unofficial gossip-off, though Lucien is certainly a bit louder with his secrets.
Harold loves the new initiates and tries to “welcome” them with small hauntings — a whisper in the cellar, a mysteriously lit candle, the perfect bottle nudged off the shelf at the right moment. So make sure to thank him, because even though he often keeps himself hidden, Harold hates to be ignored. If you disrespect the wine, talk during ritual, or roll your eyes at Esme — prepare for a mysteriously shattered glass or cold wind down your neck.
One of Harold’s favorite hobbies is to tinker with the music and while it’s usually something hauntingly classical he is also weirdly into synth pop.
Hattie
Hattie is one of the initiates, a regular member of Blackthorn. She is excited to be part of Blackthorn but she is still a little skeptical about the whole thing. She is not at all convinced that Harold is real, she thinks it’s a trick or hazing played on new members and no one can seem to convince her otherwise.
She came from a world of burnout — wasting away in a corporate job, doing everything everyone told her she should do but still felt like there must be something more to life. She found the club when she googled “wine cult?” after a weird dream and a bottle she couldn’t explain.
She is still not totally sure if she belongs. Mostly at home she drinks wine out of whatever vessel she can find while eating takeout on the couch. She second-guesses herself around wine people. Hesitates before pronouncing “Viognier.” Wonders if everyone else knows more than her — but she keeps showing up anyway.
And she’s fitting in well. She’s not afraid to call out Lucien for his pomp, tease Esme about being cryptic, or stare down a ritual and ask, “Are we drinking this or summoning something?”
But if we’re being totally honest, Cybill still scares her a little and she steers clear of the depths of the Vault. For now.
Delve Deeper into Blackthorn
Get In Touch
Most of the Blackthorn Team is too immersed in their respective tasks to bother to check their phones or email. But The Founders are always here for you.
Allie@joinblackthorn.com
Julie@joinblackthorn.com
Text or leave a voicemail: (805)452-4927