Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah, oh my! So many different wines were freely poured at the Grand Tasting event during this year’s annual Santa Barbara Vintners Celebration of Harvest. The Grand Tasting is the best opportunity to taste almost 100 producers’ signature wines, in addition to discovering many great local restaurants and specialty food purveyors. Taking place over an extended four day Columbus Day holiday, this harvest celebration encouraged everyone to spend the weekend, and really explore what the region has to offer.
Santa Barbara Wine Country is really starting to come into its own, defining which varietals thrive in which microclimates. In fact, at the Grand Tasting, this diversity was celebrated by clarifying these sub-regions. Instead of producers organized alphabetically, white tents divvied up into eight wine trails really helped the wine lover understand the wines they are drawn to, and perhaps find other wines that are similar in aromas, flavors, and structure. Are you a Chardonnay or Pinot lover? Drink along the wine trails of Buellton, Sta. Rita Hills, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara and taste for yourself the differences in these cool climate incarnations. Like a little spice in your wine, such as the Rhône-styled GSM or Syrah? Go further inland to the warmer areas, found along the Los Olivos, Foxen Canyon, Solvang, and Santa Ynez Valley trails, and find that the type of soils count as much as the weather. And some wine producers defy attempts at simple definition, sourcing fruit from different vineyards and expanding their brand. The Grand Tasting is just a teaser of the bounty of the region, and a reminder that Santa Barbara County is home to some of the best wine in the world, literally in our backyard.
Here are some of my highlights, and not enough time to do true justice to all the producers who poured their hearts out!
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah, oh my! So many different wines were freely poured at the Grand Tasting event during this year’s annual Santa Barbara Vintners Celebration of Harvest. The Grand Tasting is the best opportunity to taste almost 100 producers’ signature wines, in addition to discovering many great local restaurants and specialty food purveyors. Taking place over an extended four day Columbus Day holiday, this harvest celebration encouraged everyone to spend the weekend, and really explore what the region has to offer.
Santa Barbara Wine Country is really starting to come into its own, defining which varietals thrive in which microclimates. In fact, at the Grand Tasting, this diversity was celebrated by clarifying these sub-regions. Instead of producers organized alphabetically, white tents divvied up into eight wine trails really helped the wine lover understand the wines they are drawn to, and perhaps find other wines that are similar in aromas, flavors, and structure. Are you a Chardonnay or Pinot lover? Drink along the wine trails of Buellton, Sta. Rita Hills, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara and taste for yourself the differences in these cool climate incarnations. Like a little spice in your wine, such as the Rhône-styled GSM or Syrah? Go further inland to the warmer areas, found along the Los Olivos, Foxen Canyon, Solvang, and Santa Ynez Valley trails, and find that the type of soils count as much as the weather. And some wine producers defy attempts at simple definition, sourcing fruit from different vineyards and expanding their brand. The Grand Tasting is just a teaser of the bounty of the region, and a reminder that Santa Barbara County is home to some of the best wine in the world, literally in our backyard.
Here are some of my highlights, and not enough time to do true justice to all the producers who poured their hearts out!
The very accomplished Wes Hagen of J. Wilkes brought four sensational wines to the tasting. Hagen is one of the most influential winemakers in the area, having worked to define Santa Barbara County wines for over 20 years, he was deeply involved in the creation of three AVAs, Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, and Ballard Canyon. J. Wilkes eschews single vineyard designations and looks to AVA expressions of a blend of vineyards. The Pinot Blanc, which Wes calls “Summer in a glass”, is so fresh and aromatic, with great balance and verve, it has the potential to evolve, with the patina of time, into a complex wine with honey and hazelnut notes. Keep an eye out for Pinot Blanc in the region, it has the potential to be a rising star, an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The 2014 J. Wilkes Santa Maria Valley Pinot Blanc sets the bar for excellence, part of a trio of wines that was served in Washington DC at State Department and White House functions. The award-winning 2013 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir round out this fantastic representation of quality Santa Maria Valley wines.
Resident geologist and winemaker Michael Larner of Larner Vineyards poured his outstanding Syrah and GSM wines from his own Ballard Canyon vines, renowned among many producers for its exceptional fruit. Larner understands how soils translate into aromas and flavors in wine better than anyone, and has made the most of his “sweet spot” of climate, soils, geology, and geography. The Rhône varietals of Syrah and Grenache blossom here, and Larner maximizes its potential, selling 80% of his fruit to 23 winemakers, keeping the other 20% for his own label. The 2012 Elemental GSM and 2011 Reserve Syrah stood out, and for something different, the refreshing white Malvasia Bianca. And heads up, the Estate Dedication, a Syrah wine made only in the best years, will be making an appearance again this year.
Ken Brown Wines offered a stunning selection of his small lot, single vineyard designate wines. Brown is one of the pioneers of Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County, and this years marks his 40th harvest here. Although Ken didn’t pour the wines at the table, a crowd three deep jostled to taste his phenomenal Pinots, a legacy of single vineyard sensations. The current releases were poured, from the expressive 2013 La Rinconada Chardonnay, to the profound 2012 Radian Vineyard and luxurious 2013 Rita’s Crown Pinot Noir, and the gorgeous 2012 Thompson Vineyard Syrah. And a treat to a lucky few, the 2013 Deborah’s Pride, a blend of three vineyards, was sampled from under the table. These wines really illustrated the distinct voice that a single vineyard can have, despite the vintage year. Ken Brown’s reputation is well deserved, seek these wines out, they are truly something special.
Brewer-Clifton is dedicated to crafting the best wines from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Founded twenty years ago by Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton, who were enamored with the potential for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from these cool windswept sites, today’s wines are everything they dreamt of making, and more. Their vision was acknowledged in 2014, when Wine Spectator named the 2012 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir #8 on its Top 100 Wines of the Year list. So, in continuing their pedigreed Burgundian varietal wines, three wines were poured. The striking 2014 3D Chardonnay channels citrus in its textured body, the elegant 2014 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir balances savory notes with dark fruit personality, and the vibrant Hapgood Pinot is all dark fruit and spice, critically acclaimed with the highest scores. Although the partners sold a 70% ownership stake in the winery last year, they are still very hands-on, making some of the finest wines in Santa Barbara County.
Resident geologist and winemaker Michael Larner of Larner Vineyards poured his outstanding Syrah and GSM wines from his own Ballard Canyon vines, renowned among many producers for its exceptional fruit. Larner understands how soils translate into aromas and flavors in wine better than anyone, and has made the most of his “sweet spot” of climate, soils, geology, and geography. The Rhône varietals of Syrah and Grenache blossom here, and Larner maximizes its potential, selling 80% of his fruit to 23 winemakers, keeping the other 20% for his own label. The 2012 Elemental GSM and 2011 Reserve Syrah stood out, and for something different, the refreshing white Malvasia Bianca. And heads up, the Estate Dedication, a Syrah wine made only in the best years, will be making an appearance again this year.
Ken Brown Wines offered a stunning selection of his small lot, single vineyard designate wines. Brown is one of the pioneers of Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County, and this years marks his 40th harvest here. Although Ken didn’t pour the wines at the table, a crowd three deep jostled to taste his phenomenal Pinots, a legacy of single vineyard sensations. The current releases were poured, from the expressive 2013 La Rinconada Chardonnay, to the profound 2012 Radian Vineyard and luxurious 2013 Rita’s Crown Pinot Noir, and the gorgeous 2012 Thompson Vineyard Syrah. And a treat to a lucky few, the 2013 Deborah’s Pride, a blend of three vineyards, was sampled from under the table. These wines really illustrated the distinct voice that a single vineyard can have, despite the vintage year. Ken Brown’s reputation is well deserved, seek these wines out, they are truly something special.
Brewer-Clifton is dedicated to crafting the best wines from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Founded twenty years ago by Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton, who were enamored with the potential for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from these cool windswept sites, today’s wines are everything they dreamt of making, and more. Their vision was acknowledged in 2014, when Wine Spectator named the 2012 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir #8 on its Top 100 Wines of the Year list. So, in continuing their pedigreed Burgundian varietal wines, three wines were poured. The striking 2014 3D Chardonnay channels citrus in its textured body, the elegant 2014 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir balances savory notes with dark fruit personality, and the vibrant Hapgood Pinot is all dark fruit and spice, critically acclaimed with the highest scores. Although the partners sold a 70% ownership stake in the winery last year, they are still very hands-on, making some of the finest wines in Santa Barbara County.
Zotovich Vineyards are farmers first, living the motto that “great wine is made in the vineyard”. Their estate vineyard, located halfway between US-101 and the Pacific Ocean, is coddled and primped, to produce the highest quality wine grapes possible. Owner Steve Zotovich sells fruit to other producers but holds back enough for his small production label. Pouring several wines, Zotovich notes, “The pioneers’ work resonates through today’s wines, their influence is felt in the clones and vineyard sites”, referring to their vision of forty years ago, that this valley would produce world-class wine. The 2014 Estate Viognier is so good, the beautiful citrus and floral aromatics enhances the palate, crisp and mineral, one of the best I’ve tasted from California. The Chardonnay and Reserve Pinot Noir are dense and textured, and the Syrah is taut, elegant in its mineral, smoked meat, black pepper, and dark fruited beauty.
Margerum Wine Company produces primarily Rhône varietal wines, along with a Sauvignon Blanc, with fruit coming from its estate and other top vineyards in the area. Owner/winemaker Doug Margerum came from a restaurant background, Santa Barbara’s esteemed Wine Cask, and jumped all in as a winemaker, focusing on making wines that reflect the diversity of Santa Barbara County. The M5 is their flagship wine, made in an aromatic white and spiced fruit red version, each from five different Rhône grape varietals. The Uber Syrah is complex and persistent, made from the best Syrah grapes that Margerum works with, dense and deep, fascinating in its meaty, olive, herbal and spice notes that accent the dark fruit.
Scratch Kitchen, the new kid on the block, really made a splash, with their superb farm to table food, and delicious 2015 Grenache Blanc. Augusto Caudillo has been a chef in the area for a decade, and now with his family’s help, is making Lompoc a culinary destination, not just a hot spot for wine. It’s about time!
The wines of Santa Barbara County are on fire, increasingly recognized as a quality wine cradle, and with lots of experimentation on the ground, it’s an exciting time to visit the region. The Grand Tasting is only an introduction, happy wine trails await you, in the land of 50 different varietals, there’s a cornucopia of wine, with sides of great food, picturesque towns, and friendly faces!
Margerum Wine Company produces primarily Rhône varietal wines, along with a Sauvignon Blanc, with fruit coming from its estate and other top vineyards in the area. Owner/winemaker Doug Margerum came from a restaurant background, Santa Barbara’s esteemed Wine Cask, and jumped all in as a winemaker, focusing on making wines that reflect the diversity of Santa Barbara County. The M5 is their flagship wine, made in an aromatic white and spiced fruit red version, each from five different Rhône grape varietals. The Uber Syrah is complex and persistent, made from the best Syrah grapes that Margerum works with, dense and deep, fascinating in its meaty, olive, herbal and spice notes that accent the dark fruit.
Scratch Kitchen, the new kid on the block, really made a splash, with their superb farm to table food, and delicious 2015 Grenache Blanc. Augusto Caudillo has been a chef in the area for a decade, and now with his family’s help, is making Lompoc a culinary destination, not just a hot spot for wine. It’s about time!
The wines of Santa Barbara County are on fire, increasingly recognized as a quality wine cradle, and with lots of experimentation on the ground, it’s an exciting time to visit the region. The Grand Tasting is only an introduction, happy wine trails await you, in the land of 50 different varietals, there’s a cornucopia of wine, with sides of great food, picturesque towns, and friendly faces!