L’USINE

The French word for ‘The Factory.’ It is an homage to all the Warhols of the world

Inspired by his studio, l’usine translates to ‘The Factory’ in French. The name paying tribute to those who desire something against the mould. Dave, honouring his rebel within, created a portfolio for the ‘Warhol’s’ of the world. L’usine is Dave Phinney’s continued passion and journey to master Pinot Noir. Sourced from some of the best vineyards he chooses in any given vintage, these wines express the artistry of the winemaking process. To honour the rebel within, the front labels display art rather than displaying the grape variety or its origin which is typical in this category. The labels speak to the ‘Warhol’s’ of the world and reflect the personality of each bottle.

Visionary winemaker, Dave Phinney lives and produces wine in Napa Valley, but his interests truly span both the globe and various trades. His first foray in the wine industry was in 1997, working as a Napa Valley harvest intern. Dave quickly discovered if he were going to work that hard, he’d knew it would eventually have to be for himself. The following year he set out on his own and created the now internationally-celebrated Orin Swift Cellars. For over 20 years, Dave’s ongoing well of creativity has yet to show signs of drought. His innovative wine blends and continuous stream of imaginative labels have solidified universal acclaim, hailed for both the quality and creativity of his approach. With a collection of diverse, mysterious wine brands, Dave looks to tells a new story with every bottle.

While best known for his full-bodied and boldly flavoured reds based on Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet, Dave Phinney has been experimenting with Pinot Noir since 2005. He was inspired by the challenging nature of this varietal and wanted to master the craft. Whereas Pinot Noir’s are traditionally produced to allow the terroir to shine, Dave’s style tends to yield big and bold wines where fruit trumps earth. L’usine is Dave’s artistic studio where he continues to hone his craft and produce exceptional Pinot Noirs from top terroirs in California, and beyond. There is a battle within Dave’s representation of Pinot where he is trying to find that perfect contrast between boldness yet elegance, and terroir yet his own artistic expressions.