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Local Event Premier Host
Cost: $30
Joe Swan became intrigued with winemaking as a child, and after reading a book about the subject, set out to make his first batch. Lacking grapes, he decided to use rhubarb instead, and while this first effort may not have been particularly noteworthy, Joe’s interest in winemaking never waned. He went on to become an artist who decided he would actually make a better pilot, and through the course of a career at Western Airlines, pursued his dream to be a winery owner. In 1967, he purchased a 13-acre farm in Russian River Valley planted to old-vine Zinfandel. He made wine from the few remaining Zinfandel vines in 1968, before his friend and mentor, André Tchelistcheff, insisted that Joe replant the vineyard to the cool-climate varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
During Joe’s travels to France, he learned that low production yielded higher quality grapes. Swan did not have formal training in enology, despite his frequent lectures at UC Davis and other institutions on the subject. He became a mentor to many winemakers, and convinced his friend, Rod Berglund, to become one.
Rod grew up in Petaluma, where he was exposed to the subjects of cooking and winemaking. In 1969, Rod had just graduated from high school and was entering college, majoring in Biology. He was called to the draft board and incorrectly informed that he did not have a student deferment; they also told him that his coffin had been ordered! He enlisted in the Navy, hoping to get a usable skill out of the deal; along the way, he received a little bit of a wine education.
Rod started making wine in 1979. He married Lynn in 1986, and Joe became Rod’s father-in-law. Joe’s last vintage was 1987, and the Rodfather has carried on the great Joseph Swan legacy ever since.
Please join the very charismatic, Rod Berglund, Rodfather to many, for an incredible flight of some of our very favorite wines from Russian River Valley!
****AS A SPECIAL FEATURE, ALL WINES SERVED ON PRODUCER FLIGHT NIGHT WILL BE ON SALE FOR THAT NIGHT ONLY AT A 15% DISCOUNT TO THOSE WHO PURCHASE A FLIGHT!!!
The featured wines will be served as two ounce tastes or five ounce glasses. The cost of the two ounce flight will be $30 (or $26 for wine club members), and will include the following wines:
2014 Joseph Swan Chardonnay 'Kent The Younger', Russian River Valley
Retail: $45, Glass: $17.25
2014 Joseph Swan Pinot Noir 'Cuvée de Trois', Russian River Valley
Retail: $36, Glass: $14.75
2014 Joseph Swan Pinot Noir 'Saralee's Vineyard' Russian River Valley
Retail: $45, Glass: $17.25
2014 Joseph Swan Pinot Noir 'Trenton Estate Vineyard', Russian River Valley
Retail: $75, Glass: $25.50
2012 Joseph Swan Pinot Noir 'Great Oak Vineyard', Russian River Valley
Retail: $45, Glass: $17.25
Hosted by
Mission Bay Wine & Cheese
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