Archive for the 'Joanie Hudson' Category

2006 Lafond Pinot Noir Martin Ray Clone

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joanie
on July 20, 2008
in Articles on Wine and Vineyards, Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, New Releases and Pinot Noir
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We have a relatively new release here in the tasting room, and it has quickly become one of my favorites.  It is the 2006 Lafond Martin Ray Clone Pinot Noir.  The highest quality fruit (exclusively Martin Ray Clone Pinot Noir) has been selected to be included in this bottling.

Lafond Vineyard is home to eight Pinot Noir clones, all of which have their own unique character and flavor profile.  Bruce McGuire has produced this small batch of Martin Ray clonal designate Pinot Noir from a specific 25-acre block of the vineyard that was planted 24 years ago.  The wine was aged in 100% French Burgundy Oak barrels for about 10 months, during which its complexity was enhanced. 

The structure and depth of flavor makes this Pinot Noir a nice match with savory foods such as lamb, Copper River salmon, and hearty mushroom dishes. I have had it recently paired with crusty herbed flatbread, baked zucchini flowers (a beautiful summer seasonal vegetable), and tender grilled lamb. Enjoy it now through 2014.  Only 174 cases were produced. Price: 48.00/750ml

To order:

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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Fiesta Sevillanas - Fundraiser at Santa Barbara Winery

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joanie
on July 15, 2008
in Joanie Hudson, Open House, Other News, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events
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Flamenco Arts Festival in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Winery presents Fiesta Sevillana!

The Santa Barbara Winery will be hosting a fundraiser to benefit the outreach and education initiatives of the Flamenco Arts Festival on Friday, August 1 from 6:00 to 8:30pm.  The after hours event will take over the facility with wine being served in the tasting room and appetizers will be served in the barrel room.  
Quoting the promotional postcard we have in the tasting room:
“Join us for an evening of great wine, delicious appetizers, and Spanish dancing to benefit the Flamenco Arts Festival.  Sevillanas is the most popular dance in Spain and a must at every festive occasion.  Bring a friend and learn to dance Sevillanas in a joyful celebration of the arts!”

So apparently we will be learning to dance as well.  Dancing, food, and wine in a winery setting?  Where do I sign up? Well, I’ll tell you… Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at the Arlington Ticket Agency (1317 State St. 805-963-4408).  Click image for more information:

Wait, there’s more… Wine will be available for purchase at a 20% discount (wine club discount)

If you want to find out more about the Flamenco Arts Festival please visit their website, flamencoarts.org.  You can also call the winery for any further information, 963-3633.

Spanish costumes encouraged.

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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Old Spanish Days 3rd Annual Wine Tasting

Published
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joanie
on July 14, 2008
in Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, Other News, Sangiovese and Santa Barbara Winery
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On Saturday, Elements Restaurant and Catering hosted the Old Spanish Days 3rd Annual Wine Tasting in the Sunken Gardens at the Courthouse.  Over 40 local wineries poured over 100 wines under white tents on the grass while live music played.  There was a special reserve tasting and cooking demonstration from 2-4 for those who wanted to shell out a little bit more for a ticket.  The main tasting followed from 4:00-7:00.  
Bacon wrapped scallops, jumbo chilled shrimp, an assortment of cheese and a variety of mini cupcakes and chocolate truffled paired with the wines.  Mirella Ramirez, Lafond’s tasting room manager, poured both Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond wines, which included 2007 Santa Barbara Winery Sauvignon Blanc, 2005 Santa Barbara Winery Sangiovese, and 2005 Lafond Pinot Noir Lafond Vineyard.  The beautiful grounds of lush landscape and grass carpeting is a beautiful place to hold a tasting event on a warm summer evening.  
It seemed deceivingly smaller than the event last year, but that was because of the different set up of tables.  Instead of one large tent, two tents were set up, one for the reserve tasting and the other for the main tasting.  Guests were able to walk across the street to Elements when the event ended to continue their evening.  Sitting outside you could watch the quick breakdown of tables, which by 7:30 the Sunken Gardens looked as if there had not been a huge event there only a half an hour before.  
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

 

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Rose Tasting at SpiritLand Bistro

Published
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joanie
on July 14, 2008
in Joanie Hudson, Other News and Wine and Food Pairing
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Santa Barbara residents and wine lovers from out of town should not miss SpiritLand Bistro’s recent project: themed wine tasting dinners on the last Wednesday of each month.  These Wednesday Wine and Dine Socials include a four course organic dinner, where all the attendees bring a bottle (corkage free) to share of a designated varietal.  

Each evening they invite a winemaker who specializes in the night’s varietal to discuss the wine as well as the food pairings.  Themed tastings, as I have said many times, provide the perfect opportunity to expand your palate.  Tasting wines of the same varietal side by side allows you to see difference more clearly and understand the terminology of wine discussion.  Of course, this works up to a certain point before you reach palate fatigue and they all start to blend together, but at least then we are always enjoying ourselves.  

The SpiritLand tasting encourages mingling between guests who share a collective enthusiasm for wine and fine dining experiences.  The theme for July 30th is Rose from around the world, and the speaker will be Leigh Readey (from J&L Wines).  You can’t beat the price of this event, $45 including tip and tax.  Ryan (Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Winery Assistant Winemaker) and I have already made our reservations to attend so come see us.  Here is the menu for the Rose tasting:

First course: Assorted gourmet cheeses (from local gourmet cheese shop, C’est Cheese)

Second course: Vegetable Pakoras* and Potato Samosas** with Chutney

Third course: Seafood Paella with Cajun Spice (Vegetarian option available)

Fourth course: Apricot Crisp

Next month (August 27), the theme will be Viognier/Roussanne/Marsanne and the speaker will be Craig Jaffurs from Santa Barbara’s Jaffurs Wine Cellars.

Spiritland Bistro, 230 E. Victoria St., spiritlandbistro.com

805-966-7759, advanced reservations required for this event

 

*Pakora is a deep fried item in Indian cuisine also found in other South Asian countries

**Samosa is a fried pastry shell with a savory filling

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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Charbroiling and Wine Pairing

Published
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joanie
on July 10, 2008
in Joanie Hudson and Wine and Food Pairing
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Now that we are in the midst of summertime grilling, it is important to be able to use your wine knowledge to select appropriate pairings for those charcoal scented meats tossed onto the flames.  What type of wine should you drink with bitter food?  The example I will use is Charbroiled lamb on a bed of wild arugula.  I have been getting bunches of wild arugula from the Farmer’s Market because it is such a great pair with anything you toss on the grill.  

The flavors in a dish like the one above are strong and need a wine match that will complement, and not enhance, the bitterness.  This type of charbroiled food will tend to accentuate the wine’s bitterness.  To avoid this type of pairing, pair this type of dish with a full bodied and fruit forward California wine (2006 Santa Barbara Winery Reserve Chardonnay, 2005 Santa Barbara Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, or any Napa Merlot).  

All of these wines are full of flavor and will stand up to their food pairing.  If the wine that you choose is too light to pair with a hearty and full flavored roast, it will not ruin your meal, but the wine’s flavors will barely even register on your palate.  

On a side note, while the Reserve Chardonnay would work with a Charbroiled lamb dish, I think it would be even better if you substituted a Charbroiled pork for the meat choice.
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery 

 

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Santa Barbara Cellars Wine Storage

Published
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joanie
on July 7, 2008
in Joanie Hudson and Other News
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Santa Barbara has a new wine storage facility in Goleta that specializes in the highest level of customer service.  Santa Barbara Cellars Wine Storage recently opened off of the Patterson Ave. exit at the base of the foothills.  The storage facility is open seven days a week and has extensive temperature and humidity control.  They also advertise a great feature for frequent wine buyers who have wine shipped. 
As we all know, wine must be signed for by an adult over 21, and this can sometimes be a hassle if you are not available to receive your wine during the day.  You can have your wine club shipments shipped and signed for at the storage facility throughout the week.  Check out their website for more details, and also see their FAQ’s for helpful tips on wine storage. 
Rental Office at 98 N. Patterson Ave. Santa Barbara
805-964-4097
info@sbcellars.com
www.sbcellars.com
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Upcoming Wine Club Member Events

Published
by
joanie
on July 6, 2008
in Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery, Vineyard and Wine Club
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I just wanted to remind wine club members about all of the events we have coming up over the next couple of months, there are just a few spots left for each of them!  Reservations for events can be made by calling (805)963-3633.  I remember looking at this list at the beginning of the summer and thinking they were so far in the future, but now they are right around the corner.  With the Fourth of July behind us time is flying by at an astounding speed.  I will be talking about Harvest 2008 before we know it. 

July 19 our lovely and talented tasting room host and guitar virtuoso, Chris Fossek, will be playing Flamenco Guitar for us in the barrel room.  Chris will perform while we sip wine under candle light.  Chris played a sold out show for us last summer and frequently plays at the Pierre Lafond Bistro and up at the Lafond vineyard.  Appetizers will be served.  The cost for this event is 35.00/person.  Limit 40 people. 6-8pm.

August 9 is our Annual Wine Club BBQ. The much anticipated BBQ is set again for the second weekend of August.  Not only is the food fantastic, but you’ll enjoy Santa Barbara wines, Lafond wines, and barrel samples.  This is a great opportunity to get up to the vineyard and enjoy our wines.  This event sells out fast! 1-4pm. Only 35.00/person.

August 23 Chef Joel Chapman will be back to guide us through the cuisine of India.  Last month, Joel hosted a Greek Cooking Class where we watched him cook and listened to him tell stories about the history of the dishes and the cuisine while enjoying our wines.  Oh ya, we got to eat the food too after he prepared it!  Chef Joel was introduced to the Indian culture while living in New Zealand where there is a large Indian population 50.00/person. Limit 20 people. 6-8pm.

As a member of the wine club you get the opportunity to participate in all of our winery events.  It is truly something you should take advantage of.  We love having you here as our guests. Thank you for continuing to enjoy our wine.  We will keep making it if you keep drinking it!

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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