Two years ago, a bottle of wine arrived in the mail accompanied by a curious gift — a tiny ultraviolet keychain light. Confused at first, I soon discovered its purpose when I shined the light onto the label of the wine: “Ultra Violet.” The bottle glowed brilliantly, revealing hidden messages beneath the surface — a clever touch from Violet Vines, a boutique Oregon winery making waves from Sheridan to Milton-Freewater.
The wine itself was as memorable as its presentation — elegant, complex, and deeply Oregonian. That bottle, and the keychain that still sits on my desk, marked the start of my appreciation for this inventive and passionate producer.
The Spirit of Violet Vines
Founded and owned by April and Brian Zawada, Violet Vines crafts Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from two distinct estate vineyards. One sits in the McMinnville AVA near Sheridan in the Willamette Valley, while the other — Set in Stone Vineyard — lies in the renowned Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, a region celebrated for its rocky soils and world-class Syrah.
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Though technically part of the larger Walla Walla Valley AVA, The Rocks District is entirely within Oregon’s borders and is one of the most distinctive wine-growing areas in the country. “We’re the only Willamette Valley winery that owns a vineyard in The Rocks,” says Brian Zawada, proudly noting the unique pairing of Oregon’s two greatest terroirs under one label.
A Must-Try Bottle
The winery’s signature release, the 2023 Violet Vines Ultra Violet Reserve Pinot Noir ($75, 13.5% ABV), captures the house style: refined yet expressive. The wine brims with red raspberries, dried rose petals, and a subtle saline minerality, balanced by silky tannins and bright acidity.
It’s an exceptional Pinot that pairs beautifully with fresh Yaquina Bay oysters. True to its name, the Ultra Violet glows under ultraviolet light, revealing a hidden message on its back label — a playful reminder of the Zawadas’ creative spirit.
The Ultra Violet is available exclusively to wine club members online, but nonmembers can purchase bottles in person at the Carlton tasting room, where every bottle includes the signature keychain light.
More to Savor
For a lighter sip, the Violet Vines L’Avril Rosé ($31, 12.96% ABV) offers a vibrant blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Syrah, co-fermented for added depth. Crisp and aromatic, it’s the kind of rosé that shines on a summer afternoon or with grilled salmon.
Visitors can experience both through curated tastings. The Willamette Valley flight highlights Pinot and Chardonnay, while The Rocks flight features the Syrah-driven wines that have earned Oregon global acclaim. Each flight costs $30, with one fee waived for wine club sign-ups or a three-bottle purchase. Members also enjoy free shipping, a welcome perk in an era of rising delivery costs.
A Journey from Ohio to Oregon
Brian Zawada’s path to winemaking wasn’t a straight one. Originally based in Ohio, where he ran a risk management company, he fell in love with Oregon’s wine country during business trips. By 2019, he and April took the plunge, purchasing a three-acre vineyard in Sheridan planted to Pinot Noir.
Since then, Violet Vines has grown to include 27 acres across two vineyards, cultivating Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Viognier, Albariño, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Annual production now hovers around 3,500 to 4,000 cases, with plans to double to 8,000 cases in the coming years.
Behind the Bottle
Before entering the wine world, Zawada led an extraordinary career. “I was a broadcaster in the military,” he says. “It was a classified news broadcast sent to the White House and Pentagon during the early days of Desert Storm. I was Colin Powell and Dick Cheney’s presenter, if you will.”
These days, his focus is on communication of a different kind — connecting people through wine. A self-described history buff, Zawada recently finished Peter Cozzens’ Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation and is now practicing Spanish by reading children’s books, hoping to better converse with his vineyard team.
Inspiration and Philosophy
Zawada credits his paternal grandfather, a Navy pilot, as his greatest inspiration. “He was the most selfless person I’ve ever met,” he recalls. “He encouraged me to join the military — though he wanted me to go Navy, I chose the Air Force instead. He taught me that leadership is service.”
That ethic of humility and dedication carries through Violet Vines’ approach — careful stewardship of the land, respect for the team, and an obsession with quality. “We’re small,” Zawada says, “but we want to make wines that stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in Oregon and beyond.”
Where to Find Violet Vines
In addition to the Carlton tasting room, Violet Vines wines are featured at some of Oregon’s premier dining destinations: Trellis in Dundee and Thistle in McMinnville. For those in the Zawadas’ hometown of Medina, Ohio, bottles can also be found at One Eleven Bistro.
Whether you encounter the wines in Oregon’s lush valleys or back in the Midwest, the experience is unmistakably Oregonian — expressive, balanced, and born of both passion and place.
So, next time you pick up a bottle of Ultra Violet, switch off the lights, shine that little UV keychain beam, and watch the label glow. What you’ll see isn’t just a clever trick — it’s a reflection of Violet Vines itself: creative, vibrant, and unmistakably alive.
