CITY NIGHTS SWICK

Description

Winemaker: Joe Swick

Joe Swick is a 5th generation Oregonian winemaker who is somewhat of a natural wine pioneer in the Pacific Northwest. After traveling and working in wine all over, he returned to Oregon to start his label in 2013. Like many young natural winemakers, he owns no vineyards but sources grapes from organic or biodynamic vineyards in the Willamette and Columbia Valleys of Oregon and Washington.  He makes many different bottles, most with no added So2, and all with cheeky names. Like this white/red blend called ‘City Nights’, the origins of which Joe explains: “The Cinsault grapes barely reached 9.5% potential alcohol. When we pressed it, it came out as a Blanc de Noir, white wine of a red grape. The high elevations at the Conley Vineyard mean that we often don’t get later-ripening red grapes ripe enough for red wine (in cooler vintages, like ’21).  So instead, we use the lean Cinsault in this fun Rhone-inspired white wine. Conley is sits at 1600-1700 feet in the Yakima Valley. Extended barrel aging brings out the honey and beeswax notes while still retaining the fig and tangerine notes (from the Roussanne).”