Turning Wine Into Salt: Chat with Dry Canyon Salt Company
Interview with Ahja King about how wine salts came to be her passion.
Ahja King, the creator of Dry Canyon Salt Company, has crafted a truly unique product: wine-infused salts that bring out all the wine’s flavors. I recently sat down with Ahja to talk about her journey, her creative process, and what makes Dry Canyon stand out in the world of specialty salts.
From Teaching to Wine Salt Alchemy
Ahja’s path to salt-making was anything but conventional. With a master’s degree in education and years spent teaching and raising her three daughters, her entry into the culinary world began in the hospitality industry.
"I’ve always loved food and the culture around it," she shared. "I’ve worked in every part of food service, but my favorite has always been creating a great environment for employees and customers." This passion eventually translated into her unique approach to creating wine salts.
The idea for Dry Canyon came after a wine-tasting party at her home left her with an excess of wine. Instead of wasting it, she experimented with reducing the wine and combining it with kosher salt. The result? A flavorful product her friends and family couldn’t get enough of. What started as a hobby turned serious during the pandemic when Ahja decided to bring her wine salts to market.
Crafting the Perfect Blend
Creating the perfect wine salt requires meticulous testing. Ahja spent a year experimenting with different types of salts before landing on a large-flake kosher salt. "It holds up to the process and enhances the wine reduction without adding flavors," she explained.
The wine she uses is equally important. By working with a distributor to source consistent blends, Ahja ensures that her salts maintain the same flavor profile year-round. Her process is completely hands-on, from sourcing ingredients to labeling jars—a rarity in today’s world of co-packing.
Sustainability at Heart
Ahja is deeply committed to sustainability. "I use recyclable materials and glass jars even though it costs more. It’s important to me," she said. She’s also exploring refill packs to reduce waste and shipping costs, giving customers a way to reuse their jars.
A Cheat Code for Cooking
Whether it’s the rosé salt on grilled salmon, the white wine blend for fresh veggies, or the red wine salt in a red sauce or steak, Ahja’s creations are versatile and transformative. “These salts are like a cheat code for cooking,” she laughed. “They add depth and flavor without needing to add alcohol to the dish.”
What’s Next for Dry Canyon?
As Dry Canyon grows, Ahja dreams of scaling production while maintaining the personal touch that makes her brand special. She’s also experimenting with new flavor profiles, including collaborations with distilleries and wineries to create unique small-batch salts.
This conversation left me inspired by Ahja’s passion. If you’re curious to experience them for yourself, you can find Wine Salt Blends from Dry Canyon on our website.
Stay tuned to A Dash Of for recipes, pairings, and more insights into the world of salts.