Flying Goat Cellars Launches New Label with New (Old) Vineyard

Lompoc, CA (December 13, 2021) – To celebrate Flying Goat Cellars’ 20th anniversary in 2020, a new logo and wine label were designed by Michelle Ball. The iconic Flying Goat remains the focal point of the new design, which offers a fresh look for the well-established brand. Throughout the past year, Flying Goat has been integrating the new logo into its marketing material for consistent branding. 

Flying Goat recently released its first wine with the new label, the exclusive 2019 Pinot Noir Nielson Vineyard, to wine club members. This wine is also Flying Goat’s  first vintage of Pinot Noir made from the Swan clone and sourced from the oldest commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County. Flying Goat previously sourced from Nielson Vineyard for early vintages of its Pinot Gris. 

Nielson Vineyard pays homage to its namesake, Uriel J. Nielson, who in 1964 planted the first commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County, a region previously considered too cold to grow grapes. The Swan clone is a California heritage Pinot Noir clone named for Joseph Swan, who was a pioneer in the Russian River Valley. In the 1980s, winemaker Norm Yost worked near Joseph Swan’s vineyard in Russian River and for decades he’s been curious about the intriguing fruit. He’s delighted to finally have the opportunity to make his own expression from it. Yost was sold on the potential of the Nielson fruit after tasting a barrel sample of Bill Wathen’s (Foxen) Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir.

Flying Goat Cellars wine labels will carry the original label through the 2018 vintage of Pinot Noirs and 2019 vintage of Pinot Gris. The YNOT label, designed by Lompoc native Ricardo de los Angeles, was also refreshed by Michelle Ball in 2020. Look for the label on the 2018 YNOT Chardonnay. 

Norm Yost has been winemaking for over 42 years and launched his Flying Goat brand in 2000. He specializes in Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and traditional méthode champenoise sparkling wine.

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