Iruai (pronounced “eer-oo-eye”) is a boundary-pushing project from Chad and Michelle Westbrook Hinds, based in the Siskiyou wilderness of far northern California. Their wines blend Alpine grape varieties, wild terroir, and natural winemaking in a style they jokingly call “Californian Alpine.”
“Elphame” is their take on Savagnin, the aromatic, high-acid white grape most famous in France’s Jura. Grown at high elevation on volcanic and granitic soils in the Scott Valley, this is one of the only Savagnins made in the U.S.—and certainly one of the most distinctive.
The 2023 vintage is fermented with native yeasts, aged in neutral vessels, and bottled unfiltered with minimal sulfur. Stylistically, it’s dry, crisp, and slightly phenolic, with notes of green almond, lime peel, alpine herbs, and river stones. It flirts with Jura character but speaks with a wilder, west coast accent.
This is not an oxidative Savagnin (like vin jaune), but rather a fresh, textural white with a natural wine personality. It’s as rare as it is refreshing—and a fun pick for Jura fans who want something different, or anyone curious about the edges of California wine.
