Even Johansen has a strong connection to his Norwegian roots through wine. His father, who moved to Washington from Norway to oversee his employer’s fishing operations in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, introduced him to wine. When his father returned from business travels, he would bring bottles of Malbec and Tannat with him. Small sips were offered to young Johansen during family meals, which sparked an interest that ultimately led him to develop his own wine brands.
This early exposure sparked a curiosity that ignited fully in 2010. At the time, Johansen was pursuing a career in commercial aviation. A visit to Walla Walla wineries made him reconsider that career path. “I was thinking about what I wanted to do and thought, ‘What if I plant some grapevines?’” he recalls. Johansen planted 100 vines of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon on the family property in Moses Lake, Washington, with assistance from his mother. Later he added 500 Tannat vines imported from France.
What began as a pastime soon blossomed into a career. He enrolled in the enology and viticulture program at Walla Walla Community College and subsequently gained experience at renowned wineries like Screaming Eagle, K Vintners and Aquilini.
Johansen started producing his own wine in 2017. Today he manages a portfolio of three brands, each reflecting distinct facets of his life. Dalset, the flagship, honors his heritage. Named after his family’s Norwegian farm, the label features a striking red background — the traditional color of Norwegian houses and barns — and gold rings inspired by relics excavated from Viking burial sites.
While Dalset honors tradition, the Sylvi brand breaks away from the rigidity of high-end winemaking and intentionally “embraces imperfection.” The brand’s offbeat approach is embodied in a Riesling that is unconventionally aged in oak for 18 months, adding savoriness, and includes a hint of Gewurztraminer for sweetness. Focusing on “experimental, fun, lighter and fresher wines,” the brand was created as a tribute to Johansen’s beloved late aunt, Sylvi. “I wanted to shed light on not having to be a perfect wine to be a good wine,” Johansen explains.
His third project, MANIQ, seeks to destigmatize mental health through wine and art. The project centers on the personal story of artist Khrischen (Christian) Alvarado and was developed in collaboration with Johansen as winemaker and founding partner. Alvarado’s label artwork draws from his own experiences of struggle, creativity and healing, highlighting painting and wine as grounding forms of expression. Twelve rotating neck labels feature messages intended to inspire and provide information on accessing mental health services.
Johansen’s 2022 Dalset Red Mountain Syrah won a blind tasting hosted by a panel of Norwegian wine buyers, bringing him full circle with his roots. With the victory, he exported several hundred cases to his father’s native country and participates in promoting Washington wine on store shelves across Norway.
Despite his success, Johansen remains a student of his craft. “Mother nature likes to throw you curveballs,” he says, adding that he loves the ongoing learning each vintage demands. With dreams of eventually planting his own vineyard on Red Mountain, Johansen’s story is beginning to take root.
