Day Wines

(Brianne Day)

Day Wines, a dynamic and influential project in Oregon's Willamette Valley, is the creation of winemaker and owner Brianne Day. With a background that includes working harvests in over 80 wine regions across four continents, Day brings a worldly perspective and a deep respect for natural winemaking to her work. Her approach is a fascinating blend of intuition, creativity, and a steadfast commitment to showcasing the unique character of Oregon's diverse terroir through minimal intervention.

Terroir: A Diverse Oregon Palette

Day Wines' winemaking philosophy begins with the land, but not just one plot. Day's approach is to curate from a collection of vineyards across Oregon, allowing her to explore a wide range of climates, soils, and grape varieties.

• Sourcing from Across Oregon: While based in the Willamette Valley, Day sources from a variety of Oregon AVAs, from the well-known, cool-climate Willamette Valley to the warmer, more exotic Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. This allows her to craft a diverse portfolio that includes classic Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay alongside lesser-known varieties like Vermentino, Malvasia, and Tannat.

• Organic, Biodynamic, and Sustainable Viticulture: A core tenet of Day Wines is its commitment to working with growers who practice sustainable, organic, and/or biodynamic farming. This dedication to healthy vineyard ecosystems is paramount, as Day believes that great wine can only come from healthy, high-quality fruit. She has strong relationships with esteemed sites like Johan Vineyard (biodynamic) and Momtazi Vineyard (biodynamic), both of which are cornerstones of her portfolio.

• Diversity of Grapes: Day's curiosity drives her to work with a wide array of grapes. She's known for her blends, such as the Alsatian-style "Vin de Days Blanc" and her skin-contact "Vin de Days l'Orange," which often feature a mix of Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris. This willingness to blend and experiment with different varietals is a hallmark of her style.

Winemaking: "Less is More" and an Eye for Creativity

In the cellar, Brianne Day's philosophy is one of minimal intervention, where the winemaking process is about guiding, not controlling, the wine.

• Native Yeast Fermentation: All of the wines at Day Wines are fermented using indigenous, wild yeasts. This spontaneous fermentation allows the wines to be a true and authentic expression of the vineyard's unique microbial environment, contributing to their complexity and sense of place.

• Minimal Additions: Day Wines’ approach is about what they don't add. They do not use commercial enzymes, nutrients, or other additives. This dedication to purity is a key element of their natural winemaking ethos.

• Targeted Skin Contact: Day is a pioneer in the production of skin-contact white wines in Oregon. Her "Vin de Days l'Orange" is a prime example, where white grapes are co-fermented on their skins for an extended period. This technique imparts a beautiful amber color, a subtle tannic structure, and a complex texture to the final wine.

• Whole Cluster Fermentation: For some of her red wines, such as certain Pinot Noir bottlings, Day incorporates whole clusters during fermentation. This practice adds a savory, spicy, and textural element to the wines, contributing to a more nuanced and complex profile.

• No Fining or Filtration: To preserve the wines' natural character, most of Day Wines' bottlings are unfined and unfiltered. This can result in a slight haze or sediment, a visual cue of their low-intervention approach.

• Judicious Use of Sulfur: Sulfur dioxide (SO2​) is used sparingly, if at all, to ensure the stability of the wine. Day's goal is to produce "living" wines that are both vibrant and age-worthy without relying on high levels of preservatives.

Day Wines is a technical and philosophical leader in the American natural wine movement. By combining a global perspective with a deep-seated respect for Oregon's terroir and an uncompromising, hands-off approach in the cellar, Brianne Day is producing a diverse and captivating portfolio of wines that are a true expression of their time and place.