Wine Along The 101
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    • 2023 Articles >
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour 2022, A Brief Look at the Complex World of Italian Wine
      • A Night of Sicilian Wine, Spotlighting Cambria and Madaudo Wineries
      • Yealands Wines, “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly”, Leading the World Toward Sustainable Winemaking
    • 2022 Articles >
      • Further Defining the Single Vineyard Cru Wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Rise of the MGA
      • The Barolo Cru Wines of Beni di Batasiolo
      • Pyros Wines Sparks World-Class Malbec
      • AlloraVino Imports, a Love Affair with Italian Wine
      • Maisons Marques & Domaines Wine Portfolio: Prestige, Glamour and Good Taste for the Holidays
      • The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, a Condiment and a Culture
      • Rocca delle Macìe, Taking Chianti Classico to New Heights
      • Alluring and Iconic, The World of Chianti Wines
      • Paso Robles Weaves a Thrilling Tapestry of World-Class Wine
      • LXV Wines, The Spice of Paso Robles
      • The Mouthwatering Sauvignon Blancs of Chile
      • The Wines of Portugal, Discover a World of Difference
      • Domaines Albert Bichot, An Exceptional Approach to Burgundian Wine
      • The Wines of Abruzzo Undergo a Renaissance of Quality
      • Ketcham Estate, Exceptional Wines From The Heart of the Russian River Valley
      • La Rioja Alta, S.A., Innovation and Tradition That Stands the Test of Time
      • Vega Sicilia Celebrates 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence
      • Planeta of Sicily Embraces the Past While Reaching For the Future
      • The Spirit of Renaissance is Alive and Well in “South of Somewhere”
      • Gambero Rosso Returns to LA, With the Best of Italian Wines
      • Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno, Sannio's Ancient Wine Stars
      • Tablas Creek Vineyard Embraces Regenerative Organic Farming
    • 2021 Articles >
      • Make Merry With Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines
      • Discover These Enchanting Italian Wines, From the Fog of Piedmont to the Island Breezes of Sardinia
      • Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery, Revitalizing an Iconic Brand
      • Thanksgiving Tips for the Best Wine and Food Pairing
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wine Country Oasis
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wonderland of Wine
      • Smith-Madrone Wines, a Napa Valley Pioneer Celebrates Fifty Years of Excellence
      • Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Land of Pinot Noir
      • Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Southern Oregon
      • BARRA of Mendocino Wines, an Original Organic Wine Play
      • The Opulent and Thrilling Wines of Denner Vineyards
      • L’Ecole No. 41, Expressive Wines That Pass the Test of Time With Flying Colors
      • France's Loire Valley, a Fairytale Land of Storybook Castles and Magical Wines
      • Craft Wine, Shining the Spotlight on America’s Small Wine Producers
    • 2020 Articles >
      • Margerum Wine Company, the Nexus of Sublime Santa Barbara County Wines
      • Catena Zapata, Malbec on High
      • Long Meadow Ranch, the Circle of Life in a Glass of Wine
      • Fontanafredda Barolo Forges a New Future
      • Bordeaux Wine 2017, Surprises in a Challenging Vintage
    • 2019 Articles >
      • The Rising Wine Country of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley
      • Discover Ashland and the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon's Serenade to the Good Life
      • Napa Valley Grille, New Fall Menu Paired with European Wines
      • Embrace Your Wine Geek with PRIE Winery & Vineyards
      • Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico on High
      • Nicolas-Jay Wines, the Journey of a Lifetime
      • The Expanding Complexity of New Zealand Wine
      • Prosecco DOC, Splendor in the Glass
      • On the Oregon Wine Trail
      • Albariño and Rioja Star in Spain’s Great Match
      • Exciting and Eclectic, the Wines of Alentejo
      • Blaufränkisch Propels the Red Wines of Austria Into the Spotlight
      • Fascinating Greek Wines of the Cava Spiliadis Collection
      • Revolution In Rioja Wine
    • 2018 Articles >
      • Temecula Valley Celebrates 50 Years of Winemaking
      • The Stellar Wines of Sardinia
      • Italian Wines Prescribed by Doctor Wine
      • The Alluring Wines of Tunisia
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2018
      • Velenosi Wines, From Le Marche to the World
      • Sauvignon Blanc, a Rising Star in Napa Valley
      • Frank Family Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years
      • Markus Wine Co., Sleek New Red Wines Up the Ante for Lodi Reds
      • Lodi Wine, Over 100 Varieties Strong
      • Ramona Valley Wine Country, an Up and Coming Wine Region
      • Hertelendy Vineyards, the Pursuit of Excellence
      • Napa Valley Wine, Nirvana in a Bottle
      • Wine Stroll: Explore Downtown Paso Robles Wineries
      • The Beautiful Shades of Lodi Rosé Wines
      • Doubling Down on Gold Medal Wines: The San Francisco International Wine Competition
      • The Exotic Wines of Lebanon
      • Australian Wines, Rediscover the New Frontier
      • New Zealand Wines, Expanding beyond Sauvignon Blanc
      • Visit France in 2018, a Feast of Food, Wine, Culture and History
      • Bordeaux Wine 2015, A Very Good Year
      • Portugal's Treasure Chest of Wines
      • Livermore Valley, California’s Original Wine Country Reborn
      • Concannon and Wente Vineyards, California’s Pioneers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
      • Livermore Valley Wine Country, the Future Looks Bright
    • 2017 Articles >
      • Viña Ardanza Rioja Turns 75, an Enchanting Wine Gets Even Better
      • The VIP Sparkle of Prosecco Superiore
      • Lodi Wine Country, Seriously Good Wine From A to Z
      • Lodi Wine Country, Old Vines and Great Wines
      • Lodi Wine Country, Winegrowers and Winemakers Focused on the Future
      • Lugana White Wine, Better With Age
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip to LA
      • Sweetzer Cellars, a Life Changing Journey of Wine
      • Lugana and Valpolicella, the Yin and Yang of the Veneto
      • Three R’s of Summer Wine, Rosé, Riesling, and Ramato
      • Familia Martínez Bujanda, Wines Without Borders
      • Codorníu Cava, the Ars and Anna Collection
      • New and Exciting Wines from the 2017 Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration
      • Sensual Delights on Display at Savor Italy Los Angeles
      • Pizza and Franco Pepe, Italy’s Best Comes to LA
      • Montes Wines, Wisdom in Wine From Father to Son
      • Passionate Pinot Noir Lovers Unite at the 2017 World of Pinot
      • Vignalta, Wines of the Highest Order
      • Santa Lucia Highlands Sensational Wines
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2017
      • Law Estate Wines: Quality by Design
      • Taittinger and Calvisius: Champagne and Caviar Dreams
      • Riding High on American Rhone Wines, The Rhone Rangers LA Tasting
      • Discover Monterey Wine Country, wine and so much more
      • Wines of Portugal, the Perfect Dinner Companion
      • Gruet's Enchanting Sparkling Wines
    • 2016 Articles >
      • The Art of Italian Living, SoCal Style
      • Wines of Alsace: Perfect for the Holidays
      • Oso Libre Winery; Vines, Wines, and Angus Beef
      • Best Wines for Thanksgiving
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour Sweeps Through Los Angeles
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Chardonnay
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Pinot Noir
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Rhône Varietals
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Bordeaux Varietals
      • Achaval-Ferrer, Exceptional Wines from Argentina
      • Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
      • The Celebrity Sparkle of Ferrari Trento Wines
      • Santa Barbara Wine Country’s Celebration of Harvest 2016
      • The Garagiste Festival, Off the Beaten Path Wines
      • Explore SLO Wine Country, Central California’s Hidden Gem
      • Byron Winery, The Grand Pinot Noir Experiment
      • Crocker & Starr Wines, Organically Elegant
      • Escape to Santa Maria Wine Country
      • The Elegant White Wines of Domäne Wachau
      • Champagne Palmer: The New Champagne on the Block
      • Holman Ranch & Vineyards: Making Memories & Wine at Romantic California Hideaway
      • Luminous Wines of France's Loire Valley
    • Examiner.com Articles >
      • Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: Wines Without Compromise
      • All Stars of Pinot Noir Rock the 2016 World of Pinot
      • Ampelos Wines' Biodynamic Brilliance
      • Artisan Uprising: Blood Into Wine
      • Bodegas Beronia Rioja: The Magic of Oak
      • Crawford Family Wines: Unlocking Varietal Flavor
      • Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards' Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs Shine Bright
      • Hahn Family Wines: Santa Lucia Highlands' Sweet Spot
      • Kimmel Vineyards: Good Wine Flows from Challenging Times
      • Larner Vineyard: Sweet Spot for Syrah and Grenache
      • LOCA for Lodi Wine
      • Lompoc Wine Ghetto
      • Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Delicious Wines That Tell a Tale
      • The Diverse and Divine Wines of Santa Barbara County
      • Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
      • The Stellar Wines of California's Sta. Rita Hills
      • Skinner Vineyards, Destiny and Determination
      • Wines of Portugal, The Art of the Blend
  • Wine Reviews
    • The Dynamic Lavico Etna Wines of Duca di Salaparuta
    • The Sangiovese Stars of San Felice Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, in Can and Bottle
    • Coen Malbec Reserve 2019, a New World Wine with Old World Sensibilities
    • Sangre de Toro Rosé, A Light and Bright Summer Thirst Quencher
    • Summer and Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Rock Wine Co. Style
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
    • Monte Velho, Fascinating Wines and Value-Priced
    • Grassl Glasses Add Depth to Wine Enjoyment
    • Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut Makes Everyday a Holiday
    • Festive Ferrari Trento Sparkling Wines For All Occasions
    • Bodegas CARO, the Best of Both Worlds
    • Kosher Wines For the Jewish High Holidays Are Highly Recommended Anytime of Year
    • Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2019
    • Ron Rubin Wines, The Dream Series
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2018
    • Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux, Expressive Wines at Everyday Prices
    • Légende Collection of Bordeaux Wines
    • Five Contemporary California Wines To Try
    • Alternative Sparkling Wines For a Celebration
    • A Toast to Prosecco Superiore
    • Celebrate with this Pair of Spanish Red Wines
    • A Quartet of Summer Red Wines
    • Spanish Albariño, a Wine For All Seasons
    • Ciù Ciù Wines, Quality That Shines Through
    • A Trio of Red Wines for Holiday Merrymaking
    • Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
    • The Sultry Arnaldo Caprai Collepiano Montefalco Sagrantino
    • Pop the Cork on Charles Heidsieck Champagne and Bisol Prosecco
    • Garnacha Wines from DOP Cariñena, Beautiful Bang for the Buck
    • A Pair of Greek Wines for a Spring Feast
    • A Dynamic Duo of Sassy Spanish White Wines
    • Anderra Carménere
    • Artesa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    • Avignonesi Grandi Annate
    • Château Saint-Maur Rosé
    • La Miranda de Secastilla, Old Vine Garnacha Gems
    • Intriguing Israeli Wines
    • Leviathan
    • Domaines Paul Mas Wines Trio
    • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, intensely refreshing and delicious
    • Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino
    • Stay Cool With These Two Charming White Wines
  • Events
    • Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 Highlights Hidden California Wine Gems
    • Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival 2019
    • World of Pinot Noir 2019, A Magical Mystery Tour
    • Journey to Planet Pinot at the 2018 World of Pinot Noir
    • Great Wines of Italy Comes to LA
    • Wine Along the Beach at Garagiste Wine Festival 2017
    • Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration 2017
    • Orbit the World of Pinot Noir at the 2017 World of Pinot
    • Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2016
  • Wine Travel
  • Videos
    • Celebration of Harvest
    • Feliz Noche Wines
    • Terravant Custom Crush
    • Que Syrah, Shiraz!
    • Paso Robles Wine Festival
    • L'Aventure Syrah Harvest
    • Clos Pepe's Prince of Pinot
  • Photos
  • Who We Are
    • About Patricia Decker
    • About Fabian Rodriguez
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Bring on the new wine releases, it’s another vintage in bottle, ready to be popped!  Fresh, aromatic, and intensely flavorful, Santa Barbara County wines are diverse, with more than 50 different varietals grown.  Their famous Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, Syrahs, and Cabernets have been joined by the newest varietal wines of the County; whites such as Albariño, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier; Rosés of Syrah, Grenache, and Pinot Noir; and reds from Mourvedre and Sangiovese, to mention a few.  The dramatic landscapes and ocean breezes shape the many microclimates, which give these wines fully developed flavors and a distinctive personality.  Trending now, it’s an exciting winegrowing region, with ultra premium wines crafted by innovative winemakers.
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The annual Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend, held in April, offered wine lovers a perfect opportunity to taste the new releases, and discover some of the more unusual wines of the region.  Over a four day weekend, wineries opened their doors for wine tastings and special events, such as vineyard walks, barrel tastings, and winemaker dinners, with the spotlight on Saturday’s Festival Grand Tasting, where over 90 member wineries poured their new and current releases, along with a Saturday morning seminar that brought together six winemakers who offered something different for the region.
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(L-R) Drake Whitcraft, Peter Hunken, Rick Longoria
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(L-R) Tara Gomez, Karen Steinwachs, David Delaski
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Elaine Chukan Brown
An in-depth exploration of six wines, aptly named “Exciting New Release Wines”, looked at some of the more unusual varietals or incarnations of regional favorites.  Prominent wine writer Elaine Chukan Brown presided over a panel of six winemakers, with lively discussions of what inspired the wines they presented.  Brown described the factors that make Santa Barbara County wines so fresh and intensely flavorful, a combination of higher UV levels and ocean breezes.  Brown elaborated, “ UV exposure brings out flavor development and aromatics, it helps evolve what’s happening in the grape’s skin, and the proximity and cooling influence of ocean breezes tightens up the body of the grapes, you get this really lifting aromatic from that UV sun exposure, that flavor evolution, but then you have that tightening of the structure, that freshness component.”  And that was the common thread of this host of wines, that freshness and intense flavor, along with what Santa Barbara winemakers call salinity, basically a mineral component that really stands out in these very special wines, making them a “buy” for your home wine cellar.
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Rick Longoria of Longoria Wines
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Rick Longoria, considered one of the pioneers of Santa Barbara County winemaking, brought his Longoria Albariño Clover Creek Vineyard 2016, a varietal that is catching on locally.  Longoria fell in love with Albariño in Spain over twenty years ago, and hoped to do a California version himself, but it took some time to establish a vineyard with the potential to make a good Albariño, true to its Spanish roots.  Longoria said, “My desire was to really respect the style that the Spanish have set for this variety”, so he bottled right after harvest to retain the delicate aromatics and freshness.  Brown noted the “the lifted aromatics, exuberant fruit component, stone fruits, white peach and apricot, at different stages, and hints of pineapple”, all very characteristic of Albariño, and “so mineral, you have these long clean lines across the palate.”
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Peter Hunken of Holus Bolus Wines
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Peter Hunken poured his Holus Bolus Roussanne 2015, inspired by another pioneer of the region, Bob Lindquist, who championed Rhône varietals in California.  Hunken found Roussanne challenging to grow, but discovered that “when it’s planted in the right place, it can make a really wonderful and profound wine.”  Sourced from the legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard, this wine has all the richness and texture that Roussanne should have, along with a backbone of acidity and that mineral essence, as Brown pointed out, “more fleshiness on the palate, but it still closes so tight and clean, with that mineral element, you have that combination of really generous flavor and that real clean mineral finish.”  Roussanne ages quite well, as Hunken disclosed, it can be drunk for the first three years, but then wait until it reaches 10 years, when it gets even better.  This wine was subtle and textured, with that intriguing saline finish, perfect for many different foods.
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Drake Whitcraft of Whitcraft Wines
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Drake Whitcraft offered a different spin on Pinot Noir, one of Santa Barbara County’s signature grapes.  The Whitcraft Pinot Noir Pence Ranch Mt. Eden Clone 2015, made from the Mt Eden clone, is made with whole clusters, hand sorted, lightly foot-stomped, a short maceration, then the free run juice is fermented into wine, and aged in neutral French oak barrels, a minimal approach to high quality Pence Ranch fruit.  Whitcraft noted, “It’s easy to make wine taste like fruit, but harder to bring out the subtleties.”  Brown observed “the whole cluster really stands out, you still get fresh berry flavors, pure red fruits, and oceanic salinity through the finish” and Whitcraft agreed, “the terroir of Santa Barbara County is salt, you smell it in the air, you see it on the berries, it’s a major part of the wine.”  It’s an easy-drinking wine, with a combination of high acidity and pH levels softening it a bit, with a savory aspect that expresses itself in spice, as one attendee noted, an explosion of spice, baking spices and white pepper, that give the wine finesse and flavor.
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David Delaski of Solminer Wines
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David Delaski presented the most unusual wine, the Solminer Blaufrankisch 2015, an Austrian varietal experiment inspired by his wife, who is from Austria.  Delaski felt the grape would do well in the newly crowned Los Olivos District AVA, and assisted by Steve Clifton of Palmina and La Voix wines, he grafted over three acres of his Delanda Vineyard to Blaufrankisch.  It’s different from its European version, as Delaski mused, “We say it feels like an Austrian came and is just hanging out in California, it’s relaxed, more approachable, with more fruit, and a little darker.”  Delaski found that Blaufrankisch has a Gamay quality, fresh, darker fruit flavors, blue, black and plum fruit, pomegranate, and allspice, with a similar weight to Pinot Noir yet a little more tannin.  Brown found this wine illustrated the diversity of the County, and a great example of discovering unusual varieties that grow well here.
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Karen Steinwachs of Buttonwood Farms
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Karen Steinwachs revealed her Buttonwood Cabernet Franc 2014, a difficult grape but beautiful wine.  Steinwachs contemplated the dilemma, “It is one fussy, finicky, diva grape, very thin-skinned, in temperament as well as physical character”, requiring the Goldilocks treatment, just the right amount of sun, wind, and clusters on the vine.  Cabernet Franc has the longest hang time of any varietal in Santa Barbara County, the first one to see budbreak and the last one to be harvested.  This long growing season gives the fruit time to slowly develop, resulting in a profound depth of flavor, and this wine was so lovely, savory, with good acidity, a thread of oak melded the grape and oak tannins, accented by a touch of spice, a well balanced beauty that reflects the care in winemaking.
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Tara Gomez of Kitá Wines
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Tara Gomez displayed an unusual version of Cabernet Sauvignon, choosing a fresher, younger rendition of one of California’s most popular grapes.  The Kitá Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is sourced from their Camp 4 Vineyard, originally planted by Fess Parker.  Gomez takes a different approach, “I like to pick early, to try to retain that natural acidity, going through the vineyard for 2 or 3 picks to capture that freshness, spaced out with a little later pick to help build the structure.”  This gives the Kitá Camp 4 Cabernet some greenness to balance the fruit, but with cold-soaking, pumpovers, barrel-aging, and lees stirring, it has a nice mouthfeel.  As Brown discerned, “there is a green note, and black pepper, it’s really a fresh and focused style, very structured with high acidity,  the finish is quite long, there’s this dry firm tannin but still mouthwatering at the same time, it’s a nice combo, an approachable mouthfeel.”  And you can see through this Cabernet Sauvignon, a transparent ruby color that belies the amount of flavor in the wine.  Brown explained that Santa Barbara County winemakers have greater flexibility in making the wine they want to, with the longest growing season along the West Coast.
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The Festival Grand Tasting, held in River View Park in Buellton, featured a collection of white tents, arranged by Santa Barbara County’s individual wine trails, which helped the consumer get a better understanding of the wines’ characteristics and what distinguishes them from each other.  Owners and winemakers poured tastes of their new and current releases, accompanied by other festive trappings, tasty bites from more than thirty restaurants, caterers, and food suppliers, live music, wine and culinary demonstrations, and a silent charity auction of large format bottles, whose proceeds benefit many community organizations.  Overall, the trends this year were fresher, more balanced wines, with single vineyard designations becoming more plentiful, and a big push towards sparkling and rosé bottlings.  Here are a few highlights of the wines I tasted, and apologies to all who I didn’t get a chance to sample.
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Patricia Decker with Clarissa Nagy
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Clarissa Nagy of CNagy Wines
Clarissa Nagy of CNagy Wines poured three examples of her elegant winemaking style, each so expressive and delicious, the 2014 White Hawk Vineyard Viognier, the 2015 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Blanc, and the 2012 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir.
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The biodynamic brilliance of Ampelos Cellars was on display, the “Phi” Viognier 2016, Rosé of Syrah 2016, “Lambda” Pinot Noir 2013, “Sigma” Syrache 2013, and “Gamma” Syrah 2012, all estate grown and certified organic and SIP, so alive in their varietal expression.
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Norm Yost of Flying Goat Cellars
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Norm Yost of Flying Goat Cellars was on fire with his bevy of beautiful “Goat Bubbles” sparkling wines, the 2013 Crémant was fresh and toasty, along with a couple of single vineyard Pinot Noirs.
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Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars
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The enthusiastic Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars poured a fabulous “Pink Fiddle” 2016 Rosé of Pinot Noir, “Lollapalooza” 2012 Pinot Noir, “Seven Twenty Eight” 2012 Fiddlestix Pinot Noir, and the flavor bomb, the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc.  New offerings were the 2013 Oregon Pinot Noir Oldsville Reserve and the SRH Gruner Veltliner.
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Michael Fogelman and Lisa Liberati of Sweetzer Cellars
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Lisa Liberati of Sweetzer Cellars
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Michael Fogelman and Lisa Liberati of Sweetzer Cellars, working hard and living the dream
Michael Fogelman and Lisa Liberati of Sweetzer Cellars shared six expressive wines, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, that come from some of the best single vineyards in the area for the 2014 vintage.  The Rita’s Crown is a stunner, so complex, but each has its charms, La Encantada, Presqu’ile, and the Santa Barbara County blends.  Sweetzer has an incredible story, self-taught winemakers who started making wine in their LA apartment, check back here for their in-depth profile coming soon.
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Wendy and Mark Horvath of Crawford Family Wines
Mark and Wendy Horvath of Crawford Family Wines poured pure expressions of 2016 Albariño, 2016 Rosé of Grenache, 2015 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, and 2014 Second Street Cuvée, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvédre.  This labor of love is a family affair, as they unlock the magical varietal flavors within their wines through a minimalist approach.
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Alex Katz of Timbre Wines
Timbre Wines, formerly La Fenêtre, is the project of Joshua Klapper and Alex Katz.  Dedicated to producing savory wines of distinction, meant for food, the wines are thrilling.  The 2016 Opening Act Rosé and Pinot Noir, 2013 Lead Vocals Chardonnay, and 2014 Hi Hat Pinot Noir are just a few of the beautiful wines they produce.  The fun Lady of the Mandrake blends, the 2016 Golden Apple White and Warrior & Craftsman Red are simple pleasures.
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Presqu’ile Vineyard & Winery seemed to be all the buzz, with their vineyard’s highly sought after fruit bottled under many different labels.  Their estate wines are balanced and intense, with lots of acidity.  The fresh 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, 2014 Chardonnay, 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé, and fruit-driven and spice 2014 Pinot Noir were all crowd-pleasers.
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Lane Tanner of Lumen Wines
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The colorful Lane Tanner of Lumen Wines offered a rainbow of intense and flavorful bottles, the 2015 Grenache Blanc, 2016 Pinot Gris, 2015 Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay, 2016 Starry Rosé of Grenache, 2014 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, 2014 Presqu’ile Pinot Noir, and 2014 Grenache.
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(Back Row) David Delaski, Karen Steinwachs, Drake Whitcraft (Front Row) Rick Longoria, Tara Gomez, Elaine Chukan Brown, Peter Hunken
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Ampelos Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
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Larner Vineyard, Ballard Canyon
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From the region’s wine pioneers to small production garagistes, family-owned to biodynamic/organic wineries, these passion projects all share the wine paradise that is Santa Barbara County.  The wines just get better and better every year, delicious on their own, fabulous with food, continually surprising with their quality and value.  Festival weekends are always a great way to explore, but anytime is a good time to go.  It’s so easy, only a couple of hours north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara’s wine country charms beckon, a quick escape or a long retreat, where vineyard landscapes, beautiful wines, delicious foods, and the call of the ocean intersect, it's a magical place.