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The Orin Swift Story

A BRIEF TIMELINE OF ORIN SWIFT
BY DAVE PHINNEY

 

Welcome to Orin Swift, where bold creativity meets exceptional wine craftsmanship. Since opening our doors in 2013, we’ve been inviting wine enthusiasts—both old friends and new—to experience our unique approach to winemaking. Now, a decade later, we’ve expanded and reimagined our wine tasting experiences, transforming the historic downtown St. Helena bank building into a space that embodies the spirit of Orin Swift. Every detail, from the raw, industrial-inspired design to our thoughtfully curated tasting options, reflects our commitment to artistry and innovation. Choose from four distinct tasting experiences—Rock, Paper, The Vault, and Scissors, and The Vault—that range from casual explorations to immersive journeys into our world of wine. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, our tasting room offers the perfect gateway to discover the essence of Orin Swift in an unforgettable way.

1996 — FLORENCE (ITALY)
+ Dave goes abroad for a semester.
+ Picks up smoking.
+ Meets wine—falls in love.

 

1996 — CALIFORNIA (USA)
+ Dave heads back to the States.
+ Quits smoking (it’s cooler in Europe).
+ Works as an unpaid intern (before people realized that was a terrible idea),
helps plant a vineyard.

 

1997 — NAPA CALIFORNIA (USA)
+ Dave graduates (barely).
+ Moves to Napa. Works the night shift from 3:30 PM to 1 PM and loved it.
+ Learns defensive Spanish. Also: how to make wine.

Abstract

1998
+ Founds Orin Swift Cellars
– First wine: failed fast.

 

1999
+ Second wine: much better.

 

2000
+ More attempts, more wine. Dave mixes a bunch of the good stuff together to produce his first big hit: The Prisoner.
+ Realizes it’s better to be lucky than good.

 

2001
+ Slaps a dime on a bottle of cab (heads).
Government said it was OK—have the fax to prove it.
– Knot: tied it.

 

2003
+ Has a daughter.

 

2004
+ Has a son.

 

2007
+ New Release: Papillon. A “long story,” according to Dave—basically
named by his daughter.

 

2008
+ Prisoner: the wine label Dave sold.
+ In Prison: the guy who bought it.

 

2010
+ New Releases: Abstract and Machete.
This is when Dave got his MBA in what is and isn’t allowed in the world of intellectual property.
Expensive, but great lesson.

Tasting Room

2014
+ Dave opens up an official Tasting Room in St. Helena.
+ Stops running illegal tastings out of the office

 

2016
+ Orin Swift begins (they hope) a lifelong partnership with the Gallo family.

 

Today
+About to celebrate our 10 year anniversary with Gallo.
+ Knot: still tied.
+ Daughter: college graduate.
+ Son: taller than Dave.

 

Plans for Tomorrow
+ Knot: keep it tied.
+ Wine: keep punching and over-delivering at every level so Dave doesn’t have
to go on the road.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WITH DAVE PHINNEY

Who is ‘Orin Swift’?
Orin Swift is not a person. The name comes from Dave’s father’s middle name, Orin, and his mother’s maiden name, Swift.

Who is Dave Phinney?
Dave Phinney is a person. He’s our founder, winemaker, creative director, and artistic force behind every bottle we produce. Check out his recent profile in Wine Spectator.

When was Orin Swift created?
Orin Swift was established in 1998.

How did Orin Swift come to be? + get into winemaking?
Though Dave grew up in California, it was in Italy where his obsession began. In 1996, what was originally billed as a semester studying abroad, turned into an immersion on all aspects of wine. By 1997, Dave was all in and landed his winery job at Robert Mondavi as a temporary harvest worker. He learned a lot, including that he wanted to make his own wine. The next year, with two tons of zinfandel and not much else, Orin Swift Cellars was born.

TASTING ROOM
1321 MAIN ST.
ST. HELENA, CA

We welcome you to stop by and visit us at our tasting room located in downtown St. Helena.

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