Joseph Swan

Ambiance

• A massive, old door with heavy hardware greets you.

• Must be import business happening behind such a formidable door.

• Welcome to a down and dirty family owned winery.

• The wine tasting aesthetics is rustic.

• On a hot day the temperature inside the wine tasting/ barrel room is very pleasant.

• No fancy large bar for tasting.

• Sink into an intimate wine tasting space where wine barrels get top billing.

• Gloves, hoses, brooms, are reminders that farming grapes is the noble mission at Joseph Swan.

• Clearly if vines could talk, they’d share a proud history of this Russian River winery.

• And the beautiful vines are there for your sightseeing pleasure when you stroll the property.

Cost:

• Tasting fee $10 for 6 wines.

• Buy a bottle and fee is waived.

• 25 varieties of wine ranging from $30- $70 range.

Appointment Needed?

• Sat and Sun no appointment needed: 11:00-4:30pm.

• Fri and Mon tasting by appointment only.

Wine Pick

• A $30 2017 Gewurztraminer stole my heart.

• Touted as a wine that goes very well with spicy food, pork, rich fish or cheese, yes please.

• Surprise. A Gewurz that is not sweet at all.

• I also couldn’t resist purchasing a 2014 Pinot Noir.

• Other favorites include many versions: Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Syrah.

Dog Approved

• Yes

• Plenty of shade for your pet on a hot day

Social Media Worthy

• I found the vineyard views in the back of the tasting room spectacular.

• Perfect backdrop for a photo.

Feel Good Vibes

• 2017 marked the 50 year anniversary of Joseph Swan Winery.

• Joseph Swan’s last vintage was 1987.

• Sweet Story: One year before Joseph Swan died …….

• He saw his daughter, Lynn, marry Rod Bergland.

• Rod Bergland was the assistant winemaker under Joseph Swan.

• Lynn and Rod have carried on the Joseph Swan mission and tradition of exceptional wine making.

• A romance that blossomed in the vineyards.

Wine Nerd Facts

• You won’t find high tech equipment at this winery.

• This winery is old school.

• In 1969 the wine community thought Joseph Swan was crazy to plant Pinot Noir.

• Joseph saw the fog rolling in and went with his intuition and got the last laugh.

• Pinot Noir is still one of their premiere wines.

• The wines are also imbued with the goodness of the soil

• Sandy, ancient sea bed soil with compressed granite.

• Add some French influence to the mix.

• Joseph made several trips to France to study the French wine making style.

• Swan’s Zins are not the big jammy style, but rather more peppery.

• This is not a winery dictated by trends.

• Joseph Swan Winery is a trend setter.

Wine Club? Fun Events?

• The wine club title: Joe’s Drinking Buddies!

• Three Tiers: 3 bottle, 6 bottle or Double the Fun Membership.

• Imagine getting a cross section of 20+ different types of wine.

Sheila’s Tasting Notes

• This is not a winery dictated by trends.

• Everyone you meet here is the coolest wine geek.

• Think the show, Big Bang Theory, but centered around wine.

• When you place a bottle of Joseph Swan on the table you might as well say:

• Check Mate

• When Joseph Swan is poured, there are no comparisons.

• So glad I have this new treasure of a winery on my radar.

Joseph Swan Winery

#Chardonnay #Zinfandel #Gewurztraminer #Pinot #GrenacheBlancOrange #Syrah #PetiteSirah