The trend of
vodka made from grapes isn't over by a long shot. Next into the fray is
Swan's Neck vodka which is being created by Bernard Portet, the founding winemaker of Clos Du Val Wine Company in Napa. The
Napa Valley Register reports that Portet has returned to his roots in his native France and is teaming up with David Laverne, owner of San Francisco-based L&P Spirits Imports to make an upscale vodka using grapes. Swan's Neck Vodka is alambic distilled from French grapes making it the first grape vodka to be processed this way (we've seen
grain-based vodka processed this way before). The grapes are made into wine and then twice distilled using French copper Alambic pot stills. The vodka takes its name from the curved portion of the Alambic still's copper piping. Swan's Neck comes in Original 80 proof and Lemon Zest 70 proof varieties and sells for around $42 but doesn't seem to be available outside of California yet.
