Our Featured Wine: 8 Years In the Desert

8 Years in the Desert

WINE ENTHUSIAST

2019 STAR AWARD WINNER

WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR:

DAVE PHINNEY

The history of Orin Swift Cellars dates back to 1995 when on a lark, David Swift Phinney took a friend up on an offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester "studying". During that time, he was introduced to wine, how it was made, and got hooked. A few more years of university led to graduation and eventually a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker.

Deciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would eventually have to be for himself, he founded Orin Swift Cellars in 1998; Orin is his father's middle name and Swift is his mother's maiden name. With two tons of zinfandel and not much else, he spent the next decade making wine for others as well as himself and grew the brand to what it is today.

This zinfandel opens with ripe raspberry and blackberry, dark plum preserves and hints of black pepper and clove. The palate is packed with blueberry and sweet black cherry along with touch of fresh herbs—thyme, savory and tarragon. Long on the finish, the ripe tannins, a dash of ash, and notes of black tea round out this very enjoyable wine.

 
Sample 8 Years in the Desert now at your favorite Hospitality Restaurant location and be certain to take advantage of our half price wine nights at Rosewood Grill and Kingfish.