Loquita, an ode to the roots of Santa Barbara’s culture and a favorite among local food lovers and travelers who herald the restaurant’s inspired Spanish cuisine flavored by the Central Coast’s rich ingredients, celebrates the wines of Spain with a new bar and wine program that is timed for holiday gatherings and celebrations.
Loquita’s Bar Manager David Media introduces three expertly curated beverage programs to enjoy at the restaurant or for home entertaining – Porron Hour, Spanish Sherry Flight and the Loquita Wine Club. Medina wants to expose guests to the discovery of these selections, stating, “Our Porron Hour is designed to share the traditional Spanish method for enjoying wine while also offering an approachable price on some of our most popular wines by the glass. Sampling these selections from our hand-blown wine carafes create a singular experience where our guests can pour directly into their mouths from an outstretched arm. Sounds a bit crazy, but that’s Loquita!” Medina is also enthusiastic about the Spanish Sherry Flight and the Loquita Wine Club, continuing, “This offers our guests an introduction to different styles of Spanish Sherry found only in southwest Spain and they pair so well with our menu. Spanish wines are quite special and we wanted our guests to share the experience outside Loquita’s doors so we decided to offer a wine club that highlights our favorite Spanish producers.”
Porron Hour is offered weekdays from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. and guests can discover and challenge their palates with varieties of exceptional and lesser-known Spanish wines. A Porron is a traditional Spanish wine pitcher that holds .75 litres and is used predominately in the North-Western part of Spain – Catalonia, Aragon and Valencia. Porron hour features four distinguished varietals, 2017 Avinyo “Petillant” Cava; 2017 Columna Albariño; 2017 Menguante Garnacha; and 2015 Finca Torremilanos “Los Cantos” Tempranillo, priced at $20 per Porron.
Loquita’s Spanish Sherry Flight presents this unique Spanish wine made from white grapes grown near the city of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain. It’s produced in a variety of styles made primarily from the Palomino grape, and ranges from light white table wines to darker and heavier versions such as Amontillado and Oloroso. The flights are available nightly at the bar or table and are the perfect complement to Chef Peter Lee’s Spanish cuisine. The Spanish Sherry Flight includes four 1-ounce glasses of some classics – Osborne Manzanilla, Sanlucar Barrameda; Lustau “Almacenista Obregón” Amontillado, El Puerto; Faustino Gonzalez “Cruz Vieja”, Oloroso en Rama, Jerez de la Frontera; and Barbadillo, Cream, Jerez De La Frontera, priced at $16 per flight.
And just in time for the holidays and beyond, Loquita launches the Loquita Wine Club. Each quarter, Medina selects wines from renowned regions of Spain, including world-class producers from Rioja, Priorat, Ribeira Sacra, Bierzo, and the Canary Islands. Selections will showcase diverse climates, winemaking techniques, both modern and traditional, and include information about each producer and the terroir represented. Loquita Wine Club membership includes quarterly shipments of three bottles. Pricing is $75 – $95 per shipment plus tax and shipping charges. For more information call the restaurant at 805.880.3380 or email info@loquitasb.com.
LOQUITA’S BAR AND WINE PROGRAM
Porron Hour
weekdays, 5-6pm
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2017 Avinyo “Petillant” Cava – $20
2017 Columna Albariño – $20
2017 Menguante Garnacha – $20
2015 Finca Torremilanos “Los Cantos” Tempranillo – $20
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Sherry Tasting Flight
nightly at the bar or table
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Four 1oz. pours – $16
Osborne Manzanilla, Sanlucar Barrameda
Manzanilla is a variety of Fino Sherry and similar to our Valdespino. Produced in this seaside town right on the coast makes it similar to making Sherry in Santa Barbara. The influence of the ocean changes the way this Sherry tastes and one perceives more salinity – it tastes like the ocean and pairs perfectly with the seafood at Loquita.
Lustau “Almacenista Obregón” Amontillado, El Puerto
Amontillado Sherry is slightly richer and nuttier. It spends an average of four years under the protection of flor yeast which keeps it safe from oxygen. Halfway through its aging, the yeast is deliberately killed to allow the wine to oxidize briefly. This oxidative aging brings out nutty flavors and changes the fruit characteristics to a darker, baked pear note.
This one is the perfect pairing for Loquita’s Bellota and Jamon flight.
Faustino Gonzalez “Cruz Vieja,” Oloroso en Rama, Jerez de la Frontera
Oloroso Sherry takes oxidative aging one step further. Oloroso Sherry is made in such a way that flor never grows on the wine. The wine spends its entire life (about 15 years) breathing with the barrel. This gives the wine an intense sumptuousness. The aroma becomes very nutty, and fruit notes begin to seem dried, like raisins or figs. The wine still has bright acidity and a bit of spice which makes it incredible with fuller-flavored, fattier dishes like Loquita’s Vieras and Secreto.
Barbadillo, Cream, Jerez De La Frontera
Barbadillo is currently the biggest producer of Manzanilla and one of the biggest
Producers of Sherry. This dessert Sherry is a blend of 70% oloroso
Sherry and 30% Pedro Ximenez. It rivals the decadence of Pedro Ximenez Sherry but is much more elegant with notes of candied hazelnuts and fig jam.
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Loquita Wine Club – Unase al Club (Join the Club)!
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Each quarter, Loquita selects wines from renowned regions of Spain, including world-class producers from Rioja, Priorat, Ribeira Sacra, Bierzo, and the Canary Islands. Selections reflect diverse climates, winemaking techniques, both modern & traditional, and include information about each producer and the terroir represented.
Wine Club membership includes
quarterly shipments of 3 bottles – $75-$95 + shipping & tax
For more information call the restaurant at 805.880.3380 or email info@loquitasb.com
Loquita Sherry Tasting Flight / Photo by Kate Winter
Bar Manager David Medina / Photo by Kate Winter
LOQUITA BAR & WINE PROGRAM
Available now, continues indefinitely
PORRON HOUR – Weekdays from 5-6pm
SHERRY TASTING FLIGHT – Daily at the Bar or Table
LOQUITA WINE CLUB – Beginning mid-November 2018 and Continuing Quarterly
À la carte dinner available from 5:00 p.m.
ABOUT LOQUITA:
Loquita, an endearing Spanish colloquial term for a wild, fun loving young girl, is Acme Hospitality’s playful love letter to the Spanish history of Santa Barbara. Leading the culinary team is Executive Chef Peter Lee, with an impressive resume including award-winning Jöel Robuchon in Las Vegas, Gusto and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles. The wine list is comprised almost entirely of Spanish wines and several exceptional local wines that pair well with the cuisine. Loquita’s cocktail list showcases selections of Spanish vermouths, farmers’ market Sangria, hand-crafted cocktails and the de rigueur offerings of gin-and-tonics, Spain’s king cocktail. The Mediterranean climate and terroir of Santa Barbara County mirror that of Spain, making the translation of locally sourced produce, meats and seafood an ideal match. Down the hallway is Poquita, a standing-room-only pintxos bar, with displays of Spanish Jamon Serrano, Manchego cheese, Manzanilla olives, tapas and pintxos (small bites). Loquita’s recognition includes features in Eater, Coastal Living; C; Westways; Wine Enthusiast; AFAR; Travel & Leisure; Tasting Table; Restaurant Hospitality; Zagat; The Infatuation; Santa Barbara; 805 Living; Santa Barbara Life & Style; LA Weekly; Oakland; Darling; and awards for America’s Best New Restaurant, 3rd place, USA Today; and the Spain in Santa Barbara Foodie Award, Santa Barbara Independent 2017.
Loquita
202 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805.880.3380
For further information the public can visit:
follow Loquita:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LoquitaSB
Twitter and Instagram: @loquitasb
For more information on Acme Hospitality visit www.acmehospitality.com
