The story of Orin Swift Cellars began in 1995 when David Swift Phinney, on a whim, accepted a friend’s offer and spent a semester “studying” in Florence, Italy. During his time there, he was introduced to the world of wine, its production, and quickly became captivated. After completing his university studies, Phinney graduated and landed a temporary harvest job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997.
Realizing that if he was going to work so hard, it would have to be for his own venture, he founded Orin Swift Cellars in 1998. The name “Orin” comes from his father’s middle name, and “Swift” is his mother’s maiden name. With just two tons of Zinfandel and a vision, Phinney spent the next decade making wine both for others and for himself, eventually growing the winery into the renowned brand it is today.
