Outward Wines - 'Shell Creek Vyd' - Chenin Blanc - San Luis Obispo County, CA - 2022

Planted in 1971, Shell Creek Vineyard is among the first vineyards planted in San Luis Obispo County. This remote vineyard of the Paso Robles Highlands District sits beneath limestone cliffs featuring marine fossils after which the vineyard was named. The 2022 Shell Creek Chenin Blanc was harvested on August 20, 2022. The grapes were foot- stomped and soaked on the skins for 24 hours before pressing. The juice was then settled overnight and racked to neutral oak barrels where it underwent a native yeast fermentation and then aged for 10 months without disturbing the lees. Minimal sulfur was added for stability before bottling without fining or filtration in July 2023. This Creek Chenin Blanc features aromas of apricot, candied ginger, quince, pear, and marked minerality. The additional time in barrel compared to our Cat Canyon gives this Chenin richer mouth feel while remaining light on its feet. Only 192 cases produced.

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Outward Wines is a partnership between Natalie Siddique and Ryan Pace. We are focused on producing small-lot, site-specific wines from California’s Central Coast, primarily sourcing fruit from Santa Barbara County. All of the vineyards that we work with are farmed using sustainable, organic, or biodynamic practices and are located in close proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean.

In the cellar we strive to minimize inputs throughout the winemaking process in order to allow for a clear picture of what the site can provide naturally, and to give the wine a true sense of time and place. To that end, we utilize spontaneous yeast to carry out fermentations, and bottle without fining or filtration where possible.

While we do our best to allow the wines to speak for themselves, we also recognize the role and impact of the human element in terroir. Our hands and our decisions are reflected in the wines that we produce, so it is not only an expression of site, but it is our expression of site.

Our winemaking approach is informed by the places we have travelled, the background and experience we have in the wine industry, the wines we have enjoyed and been inspired by, the food we prepare and consume, and the friends and mentors that we consult. All winemaking dogma aside, at the end of the day our goal for these wines is for them to be delicious and to provide pleasure to the end consumer.

Outward is about expression, exploration, adventure, and the unknown. We consistently seek to push ourselves out of our comfort zones whether through adventurous pursuits in the outdoors, working with new vineyards, or simply challenging our own philosophy and approach to winemaking. Outward is our ever-evolving winemaking adventure and we hope you will join us for the ride.