It’s hard to believe that this fall will be my twenty first harvest in the Napa Valley.

Some of those vintages I remember fondly, others I’d like to forget. What may be harder to believe is that this harvest also marks the twentieth year that Orin Swift has been in business. Twenty years. It makes me feel old. But I love it, maybe now more than ever.

As many of you know, the first commercial wine I made for Orin Swift was Zinfandel. But none of you have ever tried it. None of you have tried it because it was never bottled. I sold it on the bulk market. I would argue that Zinfandel may be the most difficult varietal to tame. But when you get it right it rewards you like no other. If winemaking is a series of challenges Zinfandel has them all in spades. So, in 2009 I took a break from Zinfandel and its challenges. It would end up being an eight-year break. Eight years in the desert. It was never if but when would we make Zinfandel again. That when is now.

Today is a big day. I am reunited with the varietal that got me started in the wine business and created Orin Swift. We hope you’ve enjoyed the videos and below there is a preview of all eight of the labels. This project is by far the most personal of any I have undertaken. There will be one more reveal when the wine is shipped this fall. A unique item will accompany the wine and will only be offered with this first release. Nothing has been spared on this project. The tank is empty; everything was left on the field. This is literally blood sweat and tears.

So, with no further ado, we proudly give you 8 Years in the Desert. A blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and small percentages of other red varietals.

Enjoy,

Dave