Iruai 'Bloom Phase', California

Blood orange, deep raspberry, rose petals, and peppery aromatics give this red a bright, high-toned profile built for warmer weather. 2025 iruai ‘Bloom Phase’ Red brings equal parts Grenache and Gamay from Steelhead Run Vineyard and Four Diamonds Vineyard in Southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley together through whole-cluster fermentation, taking inspiration from the lighter Southern Rhône reds Chad and Michelle Westbrook Hinds encountered in Provence. The bottle is labeled Oregon rather than Applegate Valley because Iruai produces and bottles the wine across the state line in Etna, California, reflecting a project whose winemaking has long connected the mountain landscapes of Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Product Details:

• Producer: Iruai
• Owners: Chad Westbrook Hinds and Michelle Westbrook Hinds
• Winemaker: Chad Westbrook Hinds
• Vintage: 2025
• Grapes: Grenache, Gamay
• Blend: 50% Grenache, 50% Gamay
• Vineyard Source: Steelhead Run Vineyard and Four Diamonds Vineyard
• Fermentation: Whole-cluster fermented Grenache and Gamay
• ABV: 12.5%
• Case Production: 500 cases

Sensory Description:

Blood orange and deep raspberry lead the aromatics, layered with rose petals, peppery spice, and the producer’s evocative “head shop” note. The palate is fresh and zesty, with crunchy red and blue fruit giving the wine an energetic, juicy center. Whole-cluster fermentation reinforces its lifted perfume and savory spice, while the equal Grenache and Gamay blend keeps the profile supple and buoyant. The finish is smooth and fruit-driven, retaining freshness rather than weight.

Producer’s Background:

Iruai was founded by Chad and Michelle Westbrook Hinds in Berkeley in 2013, originally under the name Methode Sauvage. In 2019, they established the winery in Michelle’s hometown of Etna in Siskiyou County, turning their focus toward the high-elevation Shasta-Cascade and grape varieties associated with the mountainous regions of Europe. While developing their own Scott Valley vineyard projects, Iruai purchases fruit and leases vineyards across a broad mountain corridor extending from the Trinity Alps of Northern California into the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon. Bloom Phase comes from Steelhead Run Vineyard and Four Diamonds Vineyard in the Applegate Valley, but the bottle carries Oregon as its appellation of origin because the wine is produced and bottled by Iruai in neighboring California. Federal labeling rules allow an Oregon state appellation when qualifying Oregon-grown fruit is finished in an adjacent state, while use of the more specific Applegate Valley AVA would require the wine to be fully finished in Oregon. The distinction connects the vineyard source clearly to Southern Oregon while accurately reflecting Iruai’s cross-border production.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve lightly chilled at 12 to 14 degrees Celsius in a Burgundy-style or other generous red wine glass to emphasize the floral perfume, crunchy fruit, and peppery lift. Pair with adobo pork steak or a peach, mozzarella, and mint salad as suggested by the producer. Its fresh fruit and supple structure should also work well with grilled pork, roast chicken, pizza, charred vegetables, or herb-driven summer dishes.