This past September I was lucky enough to take some time off, do some camping, and visit a few wineries in Oregon. The first stop on my list was
@swickjoe . I’ve been drinking Swick’s bottles since around 2018/2019 thanks to our friends over at
@palacepubandwine
As I drove up the steep gravel driveway, I was surrounded by Pinot Noir plantings dating from 1976 to 1988, depending on the parcel. When I reached the top of the hill, Joe was already waiting with a full lineup of wines to taste. I was immediately charmed by the entire operation—just Joe, Maureen (his fellow winemaker), and her dog, Cowpie(slide 11). A two-person team that has been energizing natural wine drinkers since 2013.
If you’ve been to the Willamette Valley, you know the scene: rolling vineyard hills, state-of-the-art facilities, and an ongoing pursuit of “The Best American Burgundy.” And most of it is genuinely great. But Joe does things a little differently in Newberg, OR. Alongside Pinot Noir, Aligoté, and Cabernet, he works with varieties like Verdelho, Melon de Bourgogne, and Touriga Nacional. Though he uses the old Medici Winery facility—established in the 1970s—he sources most of his fruit from growers throughout the Willamette Valley and the Columbia Gorge in Washington.
Swick wines are full of life and character, with an old-world influence filtered through a distinctly new-world lens. My favorite over the last year has been his 2022 Willamette Valley “One Egg” Pinot Noir—a light and elegant Pinot aged for almost two years in a single 700-liter cement egg.
Thank you
@honest.makers for making this possible.
Joe will be here on the 27th from 6–9pm.
There will be magnums.
There will be a special menu.
There will be good times and great wine. #MediciBoyz
