Enter Kori Butler, Orin Swift senior winemaker and Dave’s creative accomplice.

Kori’s journey into wine didn’t follow the usual script. Paging through the Fresno State catalog looking for a major, she came across a new word: Enology. After reading the description, Kori concluded that the worst-case scenario would be tasting wine for homework. She enrolled immediately. It turned out to be the perfect mix of science and creativity she craved.

As Kori began her career, she quickly learned that unlike most jobs, her friends and family loved when she brought her work home with her.

Kori made her way across the vineyards of California to Napa Valley. Before connecting with Dave,  she developed wines and worked across a number of vineyards in the Gallo portfolio. Though her experience ran deep, the first meeting with Dave (and his considerable accolades) to discuss working together on Orin Swift was intimidating. As usual, his humble nature quickly brought things down to Earth. By the end, they were shooting the breeze like old friends.

In many creative fields, having someone to work with keeps you sharp, humble. In the best cases ideas multiply in ways they never could when working solo. The shared accountability to the brand, the fans, and each other means the quality keeps rising. From the ongoing series of Eight Years in the Desert vintages, to the ever evolving experiments with Equinox Editions, Dave and Kori refuse to rest on their laurels.

Success isn’t easy. Blending sessions can be demanding, but the hard parts are where the trust and friendship shine through.

When two winemakers like Dave and Kori share the same goal, the creative decisions become clear. After nearly a decade working together, every wine still starts with the same question: How do we make this year better than the last?

Experience the exceptional quality that Kori and Dave deliver for each of our wines.