Plan a Labor Day wine tasting trip out to Lafond Winery in the Santa Rita Hills. Harvest is just around the corner and it’s a great time to see grapes hanging from the vines while sipping and picnicing.
Both Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond will be open from 10am-5pm on Labor Day. Stop by and taste through our current line up for just $5 (crystal glass included) – wine club members taste for free (up to four guests).
The Santa Barbara Independent features numerous regular columns in it’s weekly editions. One is found in the Living section, titled ‘History.’ This week’s Santa Barbara history lesson, which always features a lengthy answer to a historical question, is about the early history of the wine industry in this area.
Q: Can you tell me about the early history of the wine industry in this area?
It’s always interesting to think about the pioneers of a burgeoning industry. We take for granted as Santa Barbara residents today having a wide variety of wineries to choose from. It’s hard to imagine that just 50 years ago, this industry was none existant. Even in 1970 less than 200 acres were planted in grapes.
This article in the Independent focuses on the very early history, pre-Prohibition. Go pick up a copy and read about the early days of California wine at the missions.
As of 2009, the wine industry in Santa Barbara County generated some $360 million and produced more than a million cases of wine yearly. Viticulture is a major component of Santa Barbara County’s economy, just as it was more than 150 years ago.
Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards
September is California Wine Month!
September is California Wine Month, and that makes it a fine time to enjoy a glass of California wine and a visit to wine country. September is harvest time in California and California Wine Month celebrates the state’s ideal climate for wine, beautiful wine country landscape, our talented and ingenious winemaking families, our celebrated lifestyle and cuisine; and our commitment to sustainability and the environment.
2010 is the sixth consecutive year (proclamation pending) that California Wine Month will be celebrated in September. California wine is important to California’s economy, as the state is the fourth largest wine producer in the world, makes 90 percent of American wine and is responsible for $18.5 billion in retail wine sales in the U.S.
Need 10 reasons to love California wine? Click here.
Next week we will begin our biggest run of bottling – 2009 Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay. We will start on the first of the month and bottle for a forecasted 11 days. This wine is our largest production wine, and is 45% barrel fermented, 55% stainless steel fermented.
2010 Harvest will be late this year because of the cool summer we have had. Can’t wait to get grapes in! There is nothing like the smell of fermentation and juicy berries in the fall.
What are California’s benchmark wines?
http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2010/08/20/what-are-californias-benchmark-wines/
There is a really great article in this month’s Wine & Spirits Magazine titled ‘Alcohol & Flavor in Wine’
“The answer lies in alcohol’s function within a wine, something that is still poorly understood. Wine is a complex chemical soup, and it is a huge challenge for wine scientists to tease apart the exact contributions specific chemical entities make to our perception of a wine. Reconstitution experiments–wherin a wine is stripped of its aromatic compounds, which are then added back in various combinations–demonstrate that the wine matrix has a profound effect on how each individual flavor or aroma compound is perceived….”
Fall 2010 issue
Check it out!
Join us on Saturday, September 18th for our September Wine Club Pick Up Party. Stop by the winery between 11-2pm and sample the wine club selection, taste some yummy treats from Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro and catch up with your fellow club members. If you usually get your wine shipped this is a great opportunity to come pick it up and save on the shipping cost. Harvest 2010 will be just getting started so we may be processing fruit in the tank room.
See you then!
Reservations are required.
Suzanne FitzGerald: Tasting Room Manager
For Reservations, please call (805) 963-3633 or Email
Santa Barbara Winery Sauvignon Blanc La Presa Vineyard 2008
Stainless Steel fermented
Recommended Glassware: Basic White Wine Glass
Flavors & Aromas: Apple, Grass, Melon
Cheese Pairings: Goat
Food Pairings: Seafood (general)
Suggested Retail: 19.00
To order: Santa Barbara Winery
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us for an epicurean adventure! The Taste of the Town is Santa Barbara’s original tasting event, featuring savory samples from many of Santa Barbara’s finest restaurants and premiere wineries. All proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Riviera Park Gardens
2030 Alameda Padre Serra
12:00-3:00 PM
For more information, contact Jeanne David at 805-563-4685
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