Wine Along The 101
  • Home
  • Articles
    • 2023 Articles >
      • Robert Hall Winery, Evolving Their Wines Toward a Regenerative Future
      • Great Wine Is Headed Your Way, the Spring Portfolio Tasting of Golden State Wine Co Reveals Many Treasures
      • 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
    • La Rioja Alta, S.A. Viña Ardanza Reserva 2016, An Elegant Vintage for an Iconic Wine
    • ETTORE Wines from Mendocino, With An Organic Focus
    • Two Excellent Value Broquel Label Wines From Argentina’s Trapiche Winery
    • 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
Picture
Ampelos Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills
Just a couple of hours north of the sprawl of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County has become the nexus of a stunning spectrum of wine.  A sweet spot of climate, soils, geology, and geography offer a Goldilocks situation, not too much of one thing, but just right in everything.  Grape varietals, many transplanted from France’s iconic regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Rhone, have found a vineyard paradise here.  It’s a cornucopia of distinctive and small production wines, a winemaker’s dream and a wine drinker’s fantasy.
Picture
Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon
Picture
La Encantada Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills
What makes the region so special?  More than 50 different varietals are grown, on acreage that is half the size of Napa Valley, 200+ wineries are open for business from five approved AVAs, and the top three varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.  And, oh, it’s an intimate wine scene, where the majority of wineries and vineyards are family owned, with relatively small production, under 10,000 cases per year.
Picture
Several Santa Barbara County vintners brought their unique perspective to the city for the Santa Barbara Vintners Road Trip Los Angeles, in the spotlight for a series of winemaker dinners, in-store tastings, and a media and trade tasting event.  Two seminars and a walk around tasting later, you’re blown away by the quality and diversity, with the realization that there is no place on the planet like Santa Barbara County.  In the span of 30-40 miles, you can drink world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, juicy Syrah and Grenache, and intriguing Bordeaux blends.
Picture
We all know the shining stars of Santa Barbara County wine:  Chardonnay, the golden goddess, Pinot Noir, ethereal and sensual, and Syrah, fragrant and savory.  But it’s the winemakers who are pushing the envelope, along with a rapid rise of quality and expression in the wines, they’re experimenting with less mainstream wine grape varieties.  And so the seminars focused on the Unexpected White and Red Wines of Santa Barbara County.  Moderated by wine writer Elaine Chukan Brown, geography set the stage.  Brown found that the coastline notch at Point Conception, where the coastal mountain ranges turn from north-south to east-west, “allows maritime influence to rush straight into a continental one, and creates profoundly unique growing conditions.”  Fog and large temperature swings develop aromas and flavors slowly, with a common thread of freshness, expressed through crisp acidity and a saline character. ​
Picture
Picture
Elaine Chukan Brown
Exploring the Unexpected White Wines of Santa Barbara County, Brown noted, "White wine tends to be under-regarded, but the truth is, many of the finest wines on the planet are white wines.  White wine has the capacity to bring incredible freshness, energy, and mouthwatering sapidity, in addition to ageability and longevity.”  Joined by Michael Larner of Larner Vineyards, Nick De Luca of Alma Rosa, Karen Steinwachs of Buttonwood, Tara Gomez of Kitá, Bob Lindquist of Qupé, and Sonja Magdevski of Casa Dumetz, six wines were discussed and explored by the panel.  Their insights have set the stage for increasing diversity and experimentation in the region.
Picture
Michael Larner of Larner Vineyards
Picture
Larner explained how he came upon the idea of his unexpected white, “We looked into Malvasia Bianca when we planted our estate in 1999, with the idea of finding a grape that can do many things, and do it in a youthful, very playful style.”  The 2016 Larner Estate Malvasia Bianca from Ballard County fit the bill, and intrigued Brown, who noted, “When you put the combination of stainless steel and concrete egg together, with an aromatic variety in soils that promote aromatics, you get this incredible bloom out of the glass, but you still have great tension, with floral notes, a really clean finish, with a bit of tang to it.”   This wine is perfect to sip around the pool, or pair with Ceviche and Thai food.
Picture
(L-R) Nick De Luca of Alma Rosa and Karen Steinwachs of Buttonwood
Picture
De Luca was intrigued by the salinity of wines from the Sta. Rita Hills, “What I love about this Pinot Blanc is a saline quality that reflects the maritime climate.  There’s a stoniness to this wine, which I attribute to the soils, the air, and hands off winemaking, just allowing the site to speak, what you’re tasting here is more than the Pinot Blanc, it’s La Encantada.”  Brown compared it to France’s Alsace version, which is leaner and more locked in, “There’s a real openness to this wine that speaks to the UV exposure in Santa Barbara County, that gives profound flavor development, yet has this deep maritime oceanic quality, mouthwatering sapidity and crispness, with a mineral expression.”  A great food wine, this 2014 Alma Rosa Pinot Blanc Sta. Rita Hills would pair well with oysters, seafood, white sauce pasta, and Japanese food.
Picture
Steinwachs found Grenache Blanc “ a weird and wonderful grape”, gigantic clusters that need lots of clipping, and scary the first time you vinify it, turning bright neon orange during fermentation!  But eventually, “all the color falls out and you get this broad textural palate but not too much aromatics, white peach, candy, and white floral notes”.  It’s what she called “summertime in a glass”, with it’s saline, mineral, stonefruit character, and this 100% 2016 Buttonwood Grenache Blanc is a stellar example of how expressive the grape is in the region, unfortunately it's a tiny production and not available to the general public.
Picture
Tara Gomez of Kitá
Picture
Expanding on white Rhône varietals, Gomez presented the 2015 Kitá T’aya blend, 57% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne, and 3% Grenache Blanc.  Gomez discussed the power of blending, “What I really like about this blend, I love Marsanne, I feel it’s not as appreciated as a varietal.  It’s a full bodied wine, it has a lot of structure to it, but where Marsanne lacks, Roussanne picks up.  I think that’s why the two are widely blended together, Marsanne has the structure, Roussanne has the aromatics and acidity, and adds more to the depth to this blend.  The same for Grenache Blanc, it has the floral aromatics and acidity.”  Here the sum of the 2015 Kitá T'aya is greater than the individual players, it’s mineral character takes on a creamy texture, sort of a lemon yogurt note, with a hint of cantalope, and a touch of oiliness that gives it a bit of weight, rounding out the wine.
Picture
Bob Lindquist of Qupé
Picture
Lindquist, a proponent of Rhône varietals in Santa Barbara County for over thirty years, weighed in on the dance between Marsanne and Roussanne in a white wine blend.  He noted, “Marsanne ages well, it’s a remarkable wine for the cellar, it has good balance.  Roussanne ages the same way, but a little richer.  Marsanne is the bass notes, Roussanne the high notes.”  Roussanne is interesting, with an evolutionary range where its youthful heady nature is interrupted after an initial bloom, going through what he called a “dumb period” where it doesn’t taste like much at all.  But after ten years, it emerges lighter in color and nutty, a savory wine with lots of character.  His 2012 Qupé Roussanne Bien Nacido Hillside Estate, 100% Roussanne, is rich, with yellow stone fruit and pear, a touch of honey, and exotic floral and earthy flourishes, and an oily texture on the palate.  Roussanne is a great food wine, perfect with seafood, poultry or pork, in addition to stinky cheese.
Picture
Sonja Magdevski of Casa Dumetz
Picture
Magdevski is smitten with Gewurztraminer, “The grape on the vine is so beautiful, tiny clusters, very pink, almost rose color when it’s ripe.”  Although most people think of Gewurztraminer as sweet, Magdevski has made it dry, “I ferment it on the skins like a red wine, destem, then 30 days of a cold soak, and it turns a deep salmon color when it’s ready to press.”  So intriguing and different, rich in color and lanolin mouthfeel, a beautiful floral perfume and ripe citrus aromatics on the nose, with balanced acidity.  As she noted, “After aging in neutral oak barrels, all of its edges, color, and intense perfume mellows out, and you get this very bold and strong wine, but I really never know what the end result will be.”  Brown observed, “I always think of Gewurztraminer as grandmother’s closet, aromatic yet spice from another generation.”  For Brown, the 2014 Casa Dumetz Gewurztraminer is an Alsatian style wine, textured, with its oxidative, floral lychee notes, “It really stimulates my palate, I can feel it on my lips.”
Picture
Picture
Picture
The Unexpected Red Wines of Santa Barbara County delved into the more unusual red varietals and ways of producing them.  Andrew Murray of Andrew Murray Vineyards, Steve Beckmen of Beckmen Vineyards, Kristin Bryden of Zaca Mesa, Scott Sampler of The Central Coast Group Project, Tyler Thomas of Star Lane, and Louis Lucas of Toccata did their best to confound what is commonly thought of as Santa Barbara County red wines.  Elaine Chukan Brown declared that Santa Barbara reds were her first loves, with “an array of varietals, various styles, and deep value”.
Picture
Andrew Murray of Andrew Murray Vineyards
Murray brought Cinsault, a varietal not well known in the US, but the fourth most widely planted grape in France.  Notably used in many Provence Rosé wines, it’s rare to see it bottled by itself.  Murray decided to play with it since it was already in the vineyard, and “I immediately fell in love with it, at once, it is rustic and sort of fruit forward, all at the same time.”  He sees a future for Cinsault, since it is “well-suited to where we are, the Goldilocks climate, and very drought and heat tolerant.”  Brown found the 2015 Andrew Murray Cinsault “spicy, earthy, with tons of flavor, focused yet light on the palate, and a kind of fresh close, it finishes clean and tight.”  Murray noted, “We get some really interesting dried fruits, sage, savory characteristics in there as well.”
Picture
Steve Beckmen of Beckmen Vineyards
Beckmen has farmed Grenache long before it was popular, for over 20 years, he has found it “so versatile, you can do so much with it, it has this incredible texture, beautiful aromatics, bright to darker fruit and spices, the flavor profile is so interesting, along with good acidity.”  Brown recognized that Beckmen “stuck it out even though the market wasn’t there”, one of the early winemakers to go all in and planted 30 acres.  She noted that the 2015 Beckmen Vineyards Grenache Santa Ynez Valley “kind of hovers in the mouth, there’s tons of concentration, so much flavor, but it doesn’t weigh your palate down, it kind of hovers and shoots through your mouth.”  With a flavor profile of pomegranate and dried berries, it’s an earthy wine with good acidity, a spice element and black pepper note.
Picture
Kristin Bryden of Zaca Mesa
Bryden offered a peek into Mourvedre, which Brown found “an interesting variety, it comes in at the later side, and can handle a range of growing conditions, but does quite well in hotter climates.”  Brown noted that Mourvedre is more fruit forward in California, but still has that distinctive meaty, gamey quality where Bryden observed “when we pick earlier, we get more red fruit tones, and an excellent perfume note, with more tannin structure.”  The 2013 Zaca Mesa Mourvedre is more on the perfumey side, which, according to Bryden, “depends on the season”.  Brown found a “mountain floral element, a wild mountain, growing in rocks, tiny little blossoms scent to it” alongside a richness to the wine.
Picture
Scott Sampler of The Central Coast Group Project
Sampler really thinks outside the box, he distinguished himself with a Syrah that tested the limits of extended maceration, 101 days to be exact.  He credited Steve Clifton with the inspiration for this style of winemaking, and it sparked a discussion on maceration times.  Brown explained, “Winemakers can choose what kind of wine they want to make, because of the long slow growing season.  It’s really easy to learn to make wine a certain way, but in reality the range of choices in the cellar and the various ways that can play out over time, in any particular vintage, is unmeasurable.”  Since Sampler makes his wines by palate, “each vintage turns out differently”.  Brown found lots of interest in the 2013 Central Coast Group Project Syrah, “This is not a typical Syrah, there is fantastic mouthfeel, an interesting chalkiness that pops up the back that I really appreciate, and so much concentration, it’s still alive, that’s a surprise.”  With dark cherry and black tea notes, it’s a dense wine that can pair with game meats, lamb, and duck.
Picture
Tyler Thomas of Dierberg Star Lane
Thomas has a passion for Cabernet Franc, and when he first came to Santa Barbara County, he saw the potential in Happy Canyon to make a straight Cab Franc wine.  He observed, “Cabernet Franc has a beautiful floral, fresh herb, bell pepper profile, we’re trying to embrace that and accentuate it.”  He regrets blending in as much Cabernet Sauvignon into the 2013 Star Lane Cabernet Franc as he did, since he felt it overwhelmed the wine.  Brown thought it was an interesting combination of supple yet firm tannins, “correctly herbal and not overly vegetal, a bit of black olive, with the texture of molé.”  It’s a work in progress, but the red fruit and fresh tobacco notes were appealing.
Picture
Louis Lucas of Lucas & Lewellen
Lucas, one of the first commercial grape growers in the region, detailed his 20 year experiment with Nebbiolo.  He found it to be “the ultimate challenge”, a very difficult grape to grow and ripen properly.  Although frustrating for a winegrower, Nebbiolo has one of the largest spectrums of both aromas and flavors, everything from tar to roses, and the Italian versions are often considered the Holy Grail for this varietal.  Brown felt that “there’s so much we don’t know about what California does well, Nebbiolo needs a lot of vine age, we have been getting successful examples from people who are willing to wait on young vines, in fact UC Davis is now recommending it as one of the varieties that can grow well here in the state.”  Lucas was not sure if he will continue with Nebbiolo, but the 2011 Toccata Nebbiolo displayed cherry and plum fruit, spice, dried berry and earth.
Picture
Scott Sampler with his unusual Central Coast Group Project wines
Picture
Winemaker Steve Clifton, who attended the red seminar, summarized it best, “Santa Barbara County has this really unique situation, on the western side, you can be drinking Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gruner Veltliner, and Riesling, you can move into Ballard Canyon, and have unbelievable Rhône varietals, then in Los Olivos, you start edging into Bordeaux, Happy Canyon has all these things.  There’s not another place, literally in the world, where in a 30-40 mile stretch you can have all these different things.”
Picture
Thirty-six producers participated in a trade and media tasting between seminars, here are a few of my highlights that I had the opportunity to sample:
Picture
Buttonwood Syrah Rosé 2016 - umami character, long finish
Buttonwood Cabernet Franc 2013 - fabulous
Picture
Picture
Picture
Casa Dumetz GSM 2014 - nice with an edge
​Clementine Carter Grenache Gris 2015 - fresh, made with cider
Picture
Sonja Magdevski gets a taste of Challen Pinot Noir
Picture
Challen Winery Pinot Noir “Scarlett” 2014 - light and lovely
​Challen Winery Pinot Noir Bentrock Vineyard 2014 - seductive and yummy

Challen Winery Pinot Noir Zotovich Vineyard 2014
Picture
Tara Gomez displayed the range of Kitá wines
Kitá Sauvignon Blanc 2016 - tropical
Picture
Michael Larner poured his Rosé just in time for summer
Picture
Picture
Vineyard limestone is reflected in the wines and labels
Larner Estate Rosé 2016 - very good, dry
Larner “Transverse” Syrah 2014 - incredibly aromatic 
​Larner Estate Syrah 2012 - silky and dense

​La Voix Here & Heaven Chardonnay 2016 - very nice

Lumen Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard 2014 - very nice
Picture
Margerum Riviera Rosé 2016 - superb, crisp
Margerum Sauvignon Blanc “Sybarite” 2015 - tropical fruit

Picture
Bob Lindquist treated those who were interested in Roussanne to an older vintage
Qupé Roussanne 2006 - so beautiful and rich, this library wine is no longer available for purchase but a great example of how well Roussanne ages
Picture
Michael Fogelman poured his very special wines
Sweetzer Cellars Presqu’ile Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 - very good, nice balance
Sweetzer Cellars La Encantada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 - umami character, beautiful balance
Sweetzer Cellars Rita’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 - fabulous

Picture
Ampelos Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills
What stood out most is that we, as wine drinkers, need to make more road trips to Santa Barbara County wineries, and taste the differences for ourselves, to really identify the nuances of the vineyards, the clones, and the appellations.  And, of course, everyone will have their favorite style, but there is beauty in diversity, all of these wines have a place at the table.  How incredibly lucky we Angelenos are, that this wealth of wine is literally in our backyard, a mere two hour journey for some of the best wines in the world.