Swan Valley Wines

Peter and Paula Hoffman, with sons Paul and Thomas, acquired their property in 1989. It had a long history of grapegrowing, the prior owner having registered the name Swan Valley Wines in ’83. Courageously, the Hoffmans decided they would try to emulate the producers of chenin blanc in the Loire Valley, who use a classification system of Sec, Demisec, Moelleux (continuing with Doux and Liquoreux) in ascending order of sweetness. From Moelleux and above, the wines cruise through 30 years, the rare Liquoreux 100 years. Swan Valley Wines only attempted the first three, but seem to have abandoned it. -JAMES HALLIDAY