Winesday with The Wine Shop – Orin Swift Wines
Dan and Ellen O’Connell at The Wine Shop in Koloa. Photo courtesy of The Wine Shop.
Tasting Kauai is happy to partner with the O’Connells for Winesday with The Wine Shop. Owners Dan and Ellen O’Connell are a delightful couple whose passion for wine is infectious, their knowledge is vast, and their service is friendly. Their beautiful store carries everything from wine and spirits to gourmet foods and sweet treats. Check in with Tasting Kauai every Wednesday to learn about their favorites. ¡Salud!
I’m not usually a winemaker groupie, however I appreciate good winemakers and enjoy following their latest vintages and styles. I recently read a great interview with Dave Phinney of Orin Swift Wines. You may not recognize his name, but his wines and winery are becoming a household name. He named his winery after his father’s middle name, Orin and his mother’s maiden name, Swift. Orin Swift Wines is now a thriving winery with lots of varietals to choose from including his original creations, The Prisoner and Saldo.
Dave Phinney, in my opinion, is one of the most cutting-edge, risk-taking winemakers today. He is young and thinks out of the traditional box. Here is a bit of his story. With the proceeds from his first two creations, he parlayed his profits and purchased 300 acres in the south of France for the sole purpose of growing grapes and created his little-known wine “D66.” After several adventures to Europe, he put his winemaking skills to work in the vast growing regions and varietals of Spain and Italy, inspiring his latest venture, Locations. His Locations wines are simply known from the first letter in the respective country’s automobile license symbols; E for Spain; F for France; I for Italy and AR for Argentina.Orin Swift Wines, as one of his associates reflects, is “pure artistry” from his labels to his final blends created every year. So if you have not experienced a Dave Phinney wine, now is the time to do it. Hope to see everybody at The Wine Shop soon!
Dano and Ellen O’Connell
The Wine Shop is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. On the first Saturday of each month from 4 to 7 p.m., they host monthly wine tastings. For more information call 808-742-7305 or visit www.thewineshopkauai.com. The shop is located just across the street from the Koloa Post Office.