NEW FROM ORIN SWIFT
NEW FROM ORIN SWIFT
Our 2022 Firebent Napa Valley Chardonnay is a reminder that obsessing over every detail in the process is the best way to get somewhere new.
The art of bending wood is not new. For thousands of years, people have used heat to transform wood. The techniques have evolved, but the principles that turn something rigid, momentarily flexible, have remained unchanged.
Nearly two decades ago, in the very early days of Orin Swift, we became obsessed with the most fundamental details of wine making. Not only the wood used in the barrels we age our wine in, but even the techniques used to form them.
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Most wood is bent with steam. It’s neutral, efficient—a process designed to be nearly invisible.
French Oak is bent with fire. The process not only changes the form of the wood, but also its color, texture, and the flavors it imparts on wine. The light–almost white– oak wood is charred black by the red flames. A practical, timeless process with a stark, almost primal beauty.
The sight stuck with us. So did the name; Firebent.
With this Napa Valley Chardonnay, we set out to get back to basics. Exceptional fruit from the iconic Stagecoach Vineyard in the Atlas Peak AVA is barrel fermented and aged sur lie for nine months in firebent French Oak.
The wine pours a pale yellow gold in glass. Aromatics of ripe peach, caramel, apple strudel, honeysuckle and brioche are immediate. It’s silky on the palette, with elegant tones of ripe Bosc pear, lemon meringue, white flowers with touches of cinnamon and mint. The finish is soft, with a lift of acidity complimented by rolls of texture and hint of caramel.
Firebent is a reminder that obsessing over every detail in the process is the best way to get somewhere new.
If red is more your thing, try our new red blend with fruit exclusively from Stagecoach Vineyard.
The Sticks and Stones pack is an exploration of the elements and is inspired by the details that define the process of wine making. Each pack consists of an even split of our two newest wines, available in 2, 4, or 6 bottles.