It all started with an adventure…
HOW IT STARTED
Cutbow Wines started as a happy mistake. The first vintage we made was an experiment from extra fruit we received from a friend and mentor Bret Urness from Levo Vineyard. Bret encouraged us to make a wine using different protocols that were foreign to him. From there, we took full creative liberty to do what we wanted. If Bret thought it was good enough to fit into his wine program he would take it back, but the result was too good and he wouldn’t take this baby away from us. From there, Bret pushed us to do our own brand. We felt honored and so our journey began.
The following years we sought out vineyards and fruit sources that we thought were special, had like minded philosophies with the farmers, and could produce wines that stand alone in a bottle as “vineyard designates”.
The Name
MEANING BEHIND THE
We went in circles trying to think of something authentic and meaningful for our brand name. We pondered about our similar interests, hobbies, and lifestyle. Then fly fishing came to mind. Taylor spent the first part of his life in Idaho where he learned to fly fish from his grandfather on legendary rivers such as the Snake and Madison. In these rivers lurks the Cutbow Trout: a hybrid fish conceived from the Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout. As we came together to craft a wine, we resonated with the Cutbow Trout. Not only was it sentimental for Taylor and countless fishing trips spent with his grandfather, but the Cutbow Trout symbolizes two individuals coming together to create something beautiful and unique. It was only a matter of time ‘til Emma got sucked into this life and love for the outdoors. After our first fly fishing trip together, Emma also fell in love with these fish, but more so the idea of these fish and what they represent in our relationship. Now we just want to express that love through our wines and their ethos.
Winemaking
HOW IT’S MADE
There’s no secret to it. Put it into a tank, mix it up a bit, and watch it do its thing. We strive to let the vineyards speak for themselves. Just as a parent would raise, influence, and guide their child, we do the same with our wines. We shape and guide our wines with an end goal in mind: to be great and pleasant for all. But we are always having to evolve and change our ways with each wine, each vintage, and each harvest. No wine is the same, or should be the same, as its predecessor. We always try to cultivate an exceptional bottle for our consumers year after year, but never altering what Mother Nature provides that season.
