2024 Tressé GSM

79% Grenache — 50% whole cluster
10% Mourvèdre
7% Syrah
4% Viognier

 

Winemaking:
Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Viognier were all picked on the same day and co-fermented together. Half of the Grenache was fermented whole cluster. The wine was aged for 12 months in just three French oak barrels, two of which were new with a light toast. The oak gives the wine structure and support while staying mostly in the background.

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Winemaker Notes:

Grenache leads with red fruit and spice, with a little smokiness and added depth from Mourvèdre and Syrah. Whole cluster brings structure and aromatic lift, while the small amount of Viognier adds another layer to the nose. Despite being aged in 66% new French oak, the oak stays in the background and lets the fruit and co-ferment character lead

 

The Story of Tressé:

When I was putting together the idea for Veer, I wanted the wines to be a chance for me to veer away from what I had been making since I started in the industry and explore varieties and styles that interested me. Before becoming a winemaker, I worked in restaurants and had developed a real appreciation for Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Rhône varieties that went into those wines. At the time, there wasn't much Grenache or Mourvèdre planted in Idaho.

Actually, the first fruit I ever purchased for Veer was Mourvèdre from Red Mountain in 2016. A couple of years later, in 2018, Sawtooth/Skyline Vineyard was asking winemakers what they would like to see planted. My answer was Grenache and Mourvèdre. They planted them, and years later those varieties became the foundation for Tressé.

Tressé means “braided” in French, which describes both the varieties and the way the wine is made. Rather than fermenting everything separately and creating a blend afterward, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Viognier were picked on the same day and co-fermented from the beginning.

It brings the story around full circle: varieties I wanted to work with when Veer was just getting started, planted here in Idaho, eventually coming together in one wine.

Only three barrels were produced.

 

Awards:

Gold — Best GSM, Cascadia Wine Competition 2026

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