August of 2019 was the last time my husband Eddie and I visited Santa Barbara, and I wrote about it for SCV Elite Magazine here. Fast forward to this past August and finally being in Santa Barbara again and we didn’t have as much time as our last visit. However, we did get some time over wine in:
Our biggest tasting was at Hitching Post 2 in Buellton, which is an hour from Santa Barbara but within the Santa Barbara County wine tasting area. I did one article on that alone, in this blog on August 29. If you are looking for how we liked their Pinot Noir, it won’t be there, it was about 90 degrees in the shade where our tasting was held so we stuck to whites and pinks.
While in Solvang we had some time to visit a new-to-us tasting room, Toccata, for Italian varietals. They are the sister winery to Lucas and Lewellen, and it was a treat to try wines not at Lucas and Lewellen. (Also: if you buy a tasting at one you get half off at the other.) At Toccata we enjoyed a tasting of their “signature wines” list:
2020 Sangiovese had lovely light cherry notes, good fruit, body and finish. $34
2022 Pinot Noir had a nice palate, notes of cherry, herbs, earth and light tannins. $32
2021 Nebbiolo was not a favorite for us as we noted overripe fruit and funkiness. The wine was garnet in color with orange on the edge. $38
2021 Nebbiolo Barbera was Eddie’s pick for its good fruit and how the blend was better than the Nebbiolo alone. $34
2020 Barbera was my favorite as I liked the sweet nose and the dark fruit flavors, tannins and balance. $34
2020 Toccata Riserva was a hit for both of us. We enjoyed the blend of six different grape varietals, the oak aging, and that it delivered a big, gorgeous wine. $49.
After Toccata we crossed the street to visit Lucas and Lewellen, a winery we have liked for a long time. Here we went for The Reserve List as the wines were new vintages of some of our favorites:
2021 Cabernet Franc – Cab Franc is one of my preferences and not everyone can do it well, L and L did and I would compare it side by side with a Napa Cab Franc for sure. Maybe not as tannic, but definitely a solid wine. $42
2021 Syrah was also spot on for us. Syrah is also a variety I really like, both our domestic and the Shiraz coming out of Australia. $36
2021 Petite Sirah was dry, with bright red and dark fruit, light finish. $39
2020 Five + One was delish. Nice dark fruit and a light finish. $56
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon “Cote Del Sol” was really nice as well, we were striking gold so far with our tasting. $48.
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon “Judge’s Reserve” was PERFECT. $94
Wines from both Toccata and Lucas and Lewellen can be purchased here. We definitely want to order some to be shipped when the heat of the summer is over.
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Shout out to Lucky’s steakhouse in Montecito for a large wine list with plenty of the Central Coast represented. We enjoyed a Stolpman 2019 La Croce blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Sangiovese that opened up quite nicely with the round of filet mignon our group had ordered.
The Funk Zone, an area with wineries, breweries, art galleries and restaurants has many tasting rooms including The Valley Project, Santa Barbara Winery, Santa Barbara Wine Collective, and from my past article, “also in the Funk Zone: Riverbench, Melville, J. Wilkes, Pali Wine Company, Municipal winemakers, Lafond Winery, Oreana, Paradise Springs, Fox Wine Company, DV8 Cellars, Area 5.1 and Deep Sea (on the pier). In the Presidio Neighborhood, just a short walk further up State Street past the 101 freeway you’ll find Grassini Family Vineyards, Happy Canyon, Silver, Cebada, Au Bon Climat and Sanford. A little further out but doable by foot, you’ll also find Potek, Sangus and Whitcraft in Midtown.”
We missed so many in our whirlwind visit, but highly recommend visits to: Jamie Slone, Kunin, Margerum and their sister label Barden.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
