Jas SwanThe Volcanic Force
From Edinburgh receptionist to Mosel renegade—triangular labels, drag queens, Icelandic mythology, and zero-addition wines that defy tradition. Cash-flow pragmatism meets maximalist creativity.
From selling cars and wedding dresses to selling out wines—Brexit bought a winery.
Jasmin Swan grew up in the suburbs of Mönchengladbach, Germany, in a middle-class family with no wine traditions whatsoever—dad sold cars, mum sold wedding dresses. Their only wine "experience" was cheap Asti and Sangria with canned fruit. After moving to Edinburgh in 2014, Jas worked as a receptionist at a Michelin-starred restaurant until the sommelière, shocked at their lack of wine knowledge, signed them up for WSET Level 2 [^28^][^25^].
Stints at natural wine bars and internships at Noma (almost) and Dill in Reykjavik followed—where Jas fell in love with Iceland's barren landscapes and passionate natural wine scene. A pivotal internship with Gilles Azzoni in Ardèche revealed that winemaking was possible without family vineyards. When Brexit was announced, Jas sold their Edinburgh flat, used the profit to buy five tanks, and posted on Facebook: "has anyone got a cellar corner I can rent?" [^25^][^33^]
In 2019, the first vintage of Katla Wines was born—2,500 liters made in a rented corner of Staffelter Hof in the Mosel Valley, courtesy of Jan Matthias Klein. Named after the Icelandic volcano, Katla represents everything staid Mosel is not: colorful, queer, loud, and unconventional [^28^][^34^].
"I make wines that I like to drink, but that don't essentially go along with the traditional style of the area where I am based."
Jas operates as a micro-négociant, purchasing organically farmed grapes from trusted friends across German wine regions—Christine Pieroth (Piri Naturel) in Nahe, Andi Mann and Nicklas Rückrich in Rheinhessen, Lukas Kraus in Pfalz. They farm 0.4 hectares of their own vines on Mosel Valley slopes, aiming to fully manage plots throughout the year and harvest everything by hand [^27^][^28^].
In the cellar, Jas favors a manual wooden press and neutral vessels (stainless steel, old barrels). Grapes are often de-stemmed by hand, and work is carried out without any additions or corrections—indigenous yeasts only, zero sulfur. The approach is one of "low-intervention" in the cellar but high-attention in the vineyard, with sustainability starting in the soil [^27^][^33^].
Experimentation is constant: foraged herbs and flowers (Douglas fir, lilac, globe thistles, spruce tips, hops, elderflower) added to fermentation tanks; barrels left outdoors exposed to elements year-round; multi-regional blends that defy German wine law (bottled as Deutscher Wein). "I prefer to make my own traditions, instead of following others" [^27^][^28^].
Foraged Herbs
Outdoor Aging
Own Traditions
Multi-regional freestyle—Mosel, Nahe, Rheinhessen, Pfalz. Breaking borders, blending regions.
Own Vines Mosel
Jas farms 0.4 hectares of their own vines on steep Mosel Valley slopes, plus manages vineyards throughout the year for friends. The goal is hands-on farming, not just purchasing fruit—tending vines, checking grapes, building relationships [^28^][^33^].
Regional Blends
Wines freely mix grapes from Nahe (Piri Naturel), Rheinhessen (Andi Mann, Nicklas Rückrich), Pfalz (Lukas Kraus), and Mosel. "It's fun to see how Piri and I can make completely different wines with grapes from the same vineyard" [^28^].
Hybrid Futures
Champion of Piwi (fungi-resistant hybrid) varieties like Regent—sustainable alternatives for organic viticulture in changing climates. Jas believes these are the future of climate-resilient winemaking, eschewing Riesling orthodoxy [^33^].
Icelandic mythology, triangular labels, and "cash-flow wines"—light, drinkable, revolutionary.
Sigyn
Named after Loki's wife. 75% Regent, 25% Riesling—dark yet refreshing with conifer and dark berry notes. The Regent sees 5 days maceration, Riesling 3 days, both semi-carbonic. A whisper of sweetness (3g RS), gently effervescent. "Grown up forest vibes" [^40^].
Mosó
100% Riesling skin contact—a collaboration with Grammy-nominated Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds. Oxidative, savory notes of brioche, cedar, honey, and calendula. Playful, elegant, soothing amber wine that challenges Mosel conventions. 12% ABV [^27^].
Soley
100% Kerner from Piri Naturel (Nahe). Hand de-stemmed, 2-week maceration, then aged in old barrels placed outside exposed to elements for 70% of the year. Didn't ferment fully—10g residual sugar. Rich, amber, notes of ginger, meadow flowers, smoky orange. Unique oxidation from outdoor aging [^27^].
Heks
"Heks" means witch in Norwegian. Pinot Blanc direct press + Regent semi-carbonic (5 days). Elegant with fresh redcurrants, cherry cola, spiced lavender. Jas's take on "Cuvée rot, rötlich"—chillable, playful, witchy [^27^].
Móa
100% whole bunch Merlot from Andi Mann's vineyard in Eckelsheim (Rheinhessen). Call her "mother"—Jas's rounder red cuvée with generous plum tones, forest fruits, soft sage aromas. 100% whole cluster maceration [^27^].
Blóma
Merlot infused with foraged wild herbs—globe thistles, spruce tips, Douglas fir tips, hops, elderflower. Carbonic maceration for 3 weeks, herbs added to foot-stomped layer and removed at pressing. "Not a Vermouth—no spirit or sugar added." Dark brambles, currants, lavender. "Regulations dictate I don't call it a wine" [^27^].
Queendom
40% Regent, 30% Pinot Gris, 30% Riesling. Part of the "Drag-Nat" line honoring drag queens. Regent and Pinot Gris see semi-carbonic maceration (5 and 14 days), Riesling direct press. Crunchy dark brambles, lingonberries, violet notes. Powerful red sparkling, more intense than previous vintages [^27^].
Kiki
The Drag-Nat queen herself. 50% Merlot, 25% Weissburgunder, 25% Riesling—juicy, vibrant, funky fizz. Weissburgunder 3-day skin maceration, Merlot 5-day semi-carbonic, Riesling direct press. Bottled with 6g RS—energetic but won't explode. Label features Swedish diva Ms. Ronya. "The category is... quirky, delightful, delicious!" [^40^].
Girl on Fire
Sparkling Cabernet Franc rosé, méthode ancestrale. Hand-harvested by Julie's team. Light pink, low pressure, white peach notes. €1 per bottle donated to Solidarité Femmes, supporting victims of violence. Less than 1000 bottles produced annually [^4^][^7^].
The Drag-Nat Revolution
@Msronya
Swedish Diva
@James.thecreature
The Creature
@_camo_mille
Camo Mille
"As an advocate of drag and trans rights, Jas has created a 'Drag-nat' line of Pet-Nats which pay homage to the artistic expression of drag."
The Triangular Renegade
Jas Swan represents the new wave of German natural wine—unconstrained by region, tradition, or AOC expectations. As a queer, non-binary winemaker in the staid Mosel Valley, they've carved out space for radical experimentation: triangular labels featuring drag queens, multi-regional blends banned by German wine law, and "cash-flow wines" that acknowledge the economic realities of small-scale natural winemaking without sacrificing creativity [^28^][^34^].
Their Wine vs. Climate Change Summit, organized with Jan Matthias Klein of Staffelter Hof, brings together natural winemakers to confront environmental crises. Their advocacy for hybrid grape varieties (Piwis) positions them at the forefront of climate-resilient viticulture. With Katla Wines, Jas proves that you don't need generational wealth or family vineyards—just a sold Edinburgh flat, five tanks, a Facebook post, and enough audacity to put foraged Douglas fir in your Merlot and call it witchcraft [^33^][^34^].
- First vintage 2019 (2,500L)
- Sold Edinburgh flat to fund winery
- Cellar at Staffelter Hof (Mosel)
- 0.4 hectares own vines
- Négociant: Nahe, Rheinhessen, Pfalz
- Suppliers: Piri Naturel, Andi Mann
- Zero additions, indigenous yeasts
- Neutral vessels only
- Manual wooden press
- Foraged herbs & flowers in wines
- Outdoor barrel aging experiments
- Triangular labels with drag queens
- Drag-Nat line (Kiki, Cucu, Queendom)
- Icelandic mythology names
- Wine vs. Climate Change Summit
- Hybrid/Piwi grape advocate
- Trans rights activist
- Back of the Van mobile salon
- Bottled as Deutscher Wein (not QbA)
- "Cash-flow wine" philosophy