The term "orange wine" can be a bit confusing and misleading.
First of all, it has nothing to do with the fruit orange.
The name refers to the color obtained when white wine grapes are fermented with their skins, just like red wine.
Just as rosé can range from a deep pink color to a pale color that is indistinguishable from white wine, orange wines also vary widely in color.
In fact, we feel that 'amber' is a more appropriate description for many orange wines, especially ours.
Different types of grapes used, the amount of contact time between the skins and stems, and the winemaking method will produce different results.
Additionally, some orange wine makers are "natural wine" enthusiasts and choose not to use any sulfur dioxide at any stage in the production process.
That's great, but in our view it can result in unstable bottles and wines with a shortened lifespan, so we, like other producers of great orange wines, choose to use a minimal amount of sulfur.
At their best, Orange Wines have depth of flavor and tannic structure making them truly seductive wines unlike anything you've ever tasted before.
Daisy is my youngest daughter, one of several courageous and visionary Daisies on my maternal side of the family.
While the wine draws inspiration from the cool climate vineyards of Northern Italy, the Beeler Family's Daisy is a completely American original.
Aromas of orange peel, dried apricot, white peach, floral, potpourri, roasted nuts, ginger and wild strawberry.
The palate is full and rich with silky tannins.
Daisy Hazy uses a small amount of pink-tinged Pinot Grigio, giving it an amber color with a slight pink tinge.
Matching vineyards where the grapes ripened at the same time was like a puzzle, requiring several different vineyards.
The majority of the fruit comes from the Golden West Vineyard, located between the Wahluke Slope and Ancient Lakes AVAs in the northern Columbia Valley.
The vineyard is characterised by a mixture of limestone, volcanic and sandy soils.
The remaining grapes come from Sunset, Homestead and Art Den Hoed vineyards in the Yakima Valley.
The use of multiple AVAs has resulted in a wine full of exotic floral aromas, beautiful traditional fruit, spice and salty umami flavours.
After a string of difficult vintages, Washington State's 2023 has been an unexpected success.
A rainy spring was followed by a short but hot summer that lasted until the end of October.
There was heavy rainfall during the harvest season, which delayed the harvest by nearly three weeks.
Nevertheless, the quality of the fruit harvested was excellent.
All our grapes are grown at an altitude of 335m or higher.
While this may not seem like a lot, only 10 percent of all Washington state vineyards are planted above this elevation.
The high altitude slows ripening, reduces alcohol levels and develops complex flavours and natural acidity.
We make this orange wine in much the same way as we make our red wine.
This process begins with world-class sustainable farming practices and low intervention by winemakers in the winery.
15% of the fruit is left whole and 85% is de-stemmed, and fermentation is allowed to begin over a few days using wild yeasts.
The fermentation itself was completed after 15 days, but the wine, skins and stems were left to rest together for a further 20 days (35 days in total on the skins).
The wine was then pressed from the skins and half transferred to old barrels and half to tanks.
The wines are only lightly clarified and filtered to maximize their character, which may impart a hazy color to the wine in the glass, but don't worry! THE BIG IDEA Born to Run from the Beeler Family is the culmination of Charles' 20 years of work.
The wines are from the two states where he has been making wine for over 10 years and are blended in accordance with the stories and traditions of his origins.
Charles has always said that the dark fruit and structure of Washington wines pairs well with the soft, juicy red fruit characteristics of California.
Interstate blending is rarely done in a quality way, but Charles doesn't shy away from it.
THE BIELER FAMILYAt age 22, Charles Bieler dropped out of school, repainted his 1965 Cadillac DeVille pink, and dove straight into the wine industry, something he knew nothing about.
For two years he lived with a caddie, traveled around the country and made a living selling his father's rosé.
More than 20 years have passed since then, and he continues to run with the same passion and vigor.
Born to Run is the culmination of his journey.