Charles Heintz Vineyard was established in 1912 and is cradled by ancient redwoods on the Sonoma Coast. An estate wine made entirely from the Swan selection of the grape, this is a delicately layered high-toned red, stratified in rhubarb, strawberry and a burst of dried herb. It is light bodied and coastal in influence and style.
The Swan Selection is famous for its "shrouded in myth" origins:
- Suitcase Cuttings: It is widely believed that Joseph Swan, an airline pilot, smuggled cuttings from Burgundy—specifically from the legendary Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)—into the U.S. in his suitcase during the late 1960s.
- California Heritage: Research suggests the original vines likely came from the Mount Eden vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which itself used cuttings brought from France in the late 1800s.
- Widespread Use: Because Swan was generous with his vine material, these cuttings were distributed to many other California vineyards and eventually registered as an official clone (FPS 97) by UC Davis in 1997.
