Instead of attending as media during the day, this time I opted to dress up, bring my hubby, and see what it’s like to attend http://www.LearnAboutWine.com’s STARS of Santa Barbara wine tasting event at night, like normal people.
I quickly discovered that the crowd didn’t walk around with notepads or cameras, so I easily got to work. The crowd was also more relaxed and less hurried, as no one was on a mission to taste everything, tweet and then get home and write about it. The one thing the guests had in common with the media is that within an hour they shared their favorites.
A story in photos can be found here, whether you are on Facebook or not: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202248370318102.1073741857.1455706632&type=1&l=0a1bbce998
2014 Participating Wineries
Zaca Mesa
www.zacamesa.com
Viognier 2012
Roussanne 2009
Z Blanc 2011
Z Three 2010 – Loved this blend of 15% Grenache, 50% Syrah and 35% Mourvedre.
Syrah 2009
Tantara
www.tantarawines.com
Chardonnay Cadence 2011
Pinot Noir Solomon Hills 2011
Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Old Vine 2011
Pinot Noir Lindsay’s 2010
Syrah Bien Nacido 2010
Alma Rosa
www.almarosawinery.com
Pinot Gris, La Encantada 2011
Pinot Blanc, La Encantada 2011
Chardonnay, El Jabali 2011
Pinot Noir, Clone 667, La Encantada 2011 – My husband Eddie’s pick.
Riverbench
www.riverbench.com
Bedrock Chardonnay 2012 – Great floral aromas, one of the few Chards I dug.
Estate Chardonnay 2012
Estate Pinot Noir 2011
Mesa Pinot Noir 2010 – A standout Pinot.
Bonaccorsi
www.bonawine.net
Fiddlestix 2010
Cargasacchi 2010
Bentrock 2010
Bien Nacido Syrah 2009
Labyrinth
www.labyrinthwine.com
SMV Pinot Noir 2011
Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2011
HAKA SBC Chardonnay 2011
Larner – A new discovery for me, in Ballard Canyon.
www.larnervineyard.com
Reserve Syrah 2009
Syrah 2009
Grenache 2009
Elemental Blend 2009 – Excellent w/65% Grenache, 23% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre.
Added: Viognier 2011
Silver
www.silverwines.com
El Ojo Blanco Cuvee Uno 2010
Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard 2009
Trentotto Fiel Syrah 2008
Fifty Cask NV (dessert wine)
Bien Nacido
www.thornhillvineyards.com
Chardonnay 2011
Pinot Noir 2010
Syrah 2010
Solomon Hills
www.thornhillvineyards.com
Pinot Noir 2010
Clos Pepe
www.clospepe.com
Added: 07 and 08 Pinot – Classic Wes Hagen.
Estate Pinot Noir 2011
BF Chardonnay 2011
Axis Mundi Grenache/Syrah Blend 2011
Kenneth Volk Vineyards
www.volkwines.com
TBA
La Fenêtre
www.lafenetrewines.com
A Cote Chardonnay 2012
Bien Nacido Chardonnay 2010
A Cote Pinot Noir 2012
LF Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2011
LF Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2010
Dr Klapper Riesling 2012
Buttonwood
www.buttonwoodwinery.com
Sauvignon Blanc, Signature Blend 2012
Rosé 2013
Merlot 2009
Cabernet Franc 2010
Trevin, Bordeaux blend 2009 – Winemaker Karen Steinwachs poured this, their latest in bottle – delish.
Fess Parker – Liked the reds the best, they also pour at Rhone Rangers.
www.fessparker.com
Ashley’s Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills 2012
Ashley’s Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2010
Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2011
Epiphany Grenache Blanc, Camp Four Vineyard 2012
Epiphany Revelation, red Rhone blend, Santa Barbara County 2010 – Awesome.
Marianello
www.marianellowines.com
Cielo Rubio 2011 – A well-done Sangiovese blend with Petit Verdot, Cabernet.
Estelle Bianco 2011
Lafond & Santa Barbara Winery
www.lafondwinery.com
Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay 2012
Santa Barbara Winery Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2011
Santa Barbara Winery Syrah Santa Ynez Valley 2011
Chardonnay SRH Sta. Rita Hills 2012
Pinot Noir SRH Sta. Rita Hills 2011
Syrah SHR Sta. Rita Hills 2011
Shai Cellars – All well done by winemaker Shawn Halahmy. Always love his Adome.
www.shaicellars.com
Adome – 65% Syrah 35% Cab 2009 – My fave of Shawn’s current line-up.
Grenache 2009
Adome 65% Syrah 35% Grenache 2010
Syrah 2010
Pence Ranch
www.penceranch.com
Estate Pinot Noir 2010
Uplands Pinot Noir 2010
Westslope Pinot Noir 2010
Estate Pinot Noir 2011
Foxen Winery
www.foxenvineyard.com
Chardonnay, Bien Nacido, Block UU 2012
Chardonnay, Tinaquaic Vyd 2012
Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2012
Cuvee Jeanne Marie 2011 – An outstanding Grenache Mourvedre (no Syrah) blend.
“foxen 7200” Cabernet Sauvignon, Vogelzang Vyd 2010 – Must visit 7200 location.
Westerly Wines
www.westerlywines.com
Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Fletcher’s Red 2009
Fletcher’s White 2012
Merlot 2010
Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Bridlewood Estate
www.bridlewoodwinery.com
Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2012
Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2010
Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Kessler-Haak
www.kesslerhaakwine.com
Pinot Noir 2010
Pinot Noir-Clone 2A 2010
Chardonnay 2010
Syrah 2011
Sparkling Brut 2012 – Fun, both tart and sweet.
Jaffurs
www.jaffurswine.com
Viognier 2012
Grenache Blanc 2012
Grenache 2010
Syrah 2011 – They make 7 different Syrahs, this was great, want the other 6.
Petite Sirah 2012 – A definite standout, may have been the only Petite Sirah.
D’Alfonso-Curran
www.d-cwines.com
Curran Grenache Blanc, Santa Ynez 2012
D-C Chardonnay, Santa Barbara 2008
Curran Grenache Rose, Santa Ynez 2012
Curran Tempranillo, Santa Ynez 2008
BADGE Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2009
D-C Pinot Noir, Rancho La Vina 2007
Paring by Jonata
www.thehiltwines.com
Paring GS Red Blend2010
Paring Red 2010
The Hilt by Jonata
www.thehiltwines.com
Hilt Vanguard Chardonnay 2011
Vanguard Pinot Noir 2010
Summerland
www.summerlandwine.com
Proprietor’s Reserve Pinot Noir Theresa-Noelle Vineyard 2011
Proprietor’s Reserve 50/50 2011
Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard 2012
Trio Rhone Blend 2012
Petite Sirah Wolff Vineyard 2012
Tercero
www.tercerowines.com
The Outlier 2012
Grenache Blanc 2012
Viognier 2012
Mourvedre 2010
Grenache – Larner Vineyad 2009
Cuvee Christie 2009
Petite Sirah 2009
Palmina
www.palminawines.com
Tocai Friulano 2012
Malvasia Bianca 2011
Alisos (Sangiovese & Merlot blend) 2010
Nebbiolo “Santa Barbara County” 2008
Consilience
www.consiliencewines.com
Consilience Syrah 2011
Consilience Petite Sirah 2011
Solminer – Winery owner is Austrian – and a huge influence on these low-alcohol refreshing wines.
www.solminer.com
Dry Riesling – Rancho Sisquoc – Santa Maria 2012
Grüner Veltliner – John Sebastiano Vineyard – Santa Ynez 2012
Linus Rosé – deLanda Vineyard – Santa Ynez 2012
Rubellite Syrah – deLand Vineyard – Santa Ynez 2012
Gypsy Canyon
www.gypsycanyon.com
Estate Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2011
Ancient Vine Angelica
Sunstone
www.sunstonewinery.com
Chardonnay SBC – Goodchild Vineyard 2012
Viognier – Paso Robles 2012
Cab Franc, Estate 2010
Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate 2010
Demetria Estate
www.demetriaestate.com
Eighteen Chardonnay 2011
Cuvee Papou 2012
Cuvee Constantine 2011
Pantheon 2011
Crawford – Tasting room in Buellton, off of 2nd St, and part of a new 3-winery ghetto on the horizon.
www.crawfordfamilywines.com
Chardonnay, Tin Shack, Sta. Rita Hills 2012 – Another great Chard.
Pinot Noir, Zotovich Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills 2012
Pinot Noir, “22”, Sta. Rita Hills 2012
Cebada
www.cebadawine.com
Estate Pinot Noir 2011
Estate Chardonnay 2011
Refugio Ranch
www.refugioranch.com
Tiradora (Sauvignon Blanc) 2011
Ineseno (Roussanne/Viognier) 2011
Escondrijo (Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah) 2011
Barbareno (Syrah, Petite Sirah) 2010
Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Petite Sirah 2011
Viognier 2011
Lindley
www.lindleywines.com
“Sierra Madre Vineyard” Chardonnay 2011
“La Lomita Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2011
Pali Wine Co.
www.paliwineco.com
“Huntington” Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2012
“Summit” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2011
Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
Rancho la Vina Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
Montemar
www.facebook.com/montemarwinery
Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2011
Watch Hill Syrah 2009
From http://www.LearnAboutWine.com
Dedicated to keeping the populous current on the great wines coming out of Santa Barbara, this Annual Tasting Event features the namesakes, owners, winemakers pouring some of the best wine made in California. Long before Sideways, LearnAboutWine was bullish about the quality of Santa Barbara wine.
Today, with number of brands doubling in the past 10 years, the story is continuing to evolve. Tasting areas like THE FUNK ZONE continue to elevate the Santa Barbara tasting experience. New Appellations like Happy Canyon, Buellton, Los Alamos and further refinements coming, Santa Barbara is remaining topical and improving with each and every vintage. Come see the story first hand at Stars of Santa Barbara.
