Florèz Wines "Kind of Orange" Viognier, Cienega Valley, California 2023

FROM JENNY & FRANCOIS:

THE WINE: This Orange is made from Viognier sourced inland in the Cienega Valley. Fermented with native yeasts with 25% whole cluster grapes and three weeks of maceration on the skins. The wine then ages in neutral French oak for 6 months on the lees before unfiltered bottling. No added sulfur.

THE PRODUCER: Florèz Wines was started by James Jelks in 2017. James grew up in the Santa Cruz area and was schooled in winemaking at nearby UC Davis. He worked in wineries all over the world for 10 years before returning home to make wine in the Santa Cruz area. He is farming some vineyards himself, always dry-farmed, and is also sourcing some fruit from organic and sustainable vineyards. He always works with native yeasts, does not use additives except for a minimal amount of sulfur at bottling, and does not filter the wines.