Florez Kind of Orange Viognier 2023

Country: USA

Region: Santa Cruz

Type: Orange Wine

Grape: Viognier

Florèz Wines was started by James Jelks in 2017. James grew up in the Santa Cruz area and studied winemaking at 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. Vineyards are dry-farmed and native yeasts are used.

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.

Aromas of tropical fruit and mandarin are met with a soft and round body with layered stone fruit and tropical flavors supported by bright acidity and silky tannins that lead into a dry finish.