Archive for the 'Lafond Winery' Category

Bottling Lafond Wines This Week

Published on July 9, 2010 in Bottling and Lafond Winery. 0 Comments

This week we have been bottling Lafond wines at the Santa Barbara Winery production facility.  We do all of the bottling for both Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond right downtown because we have our own bottling line in the warehouse behind the tasting room.  

Bottling is an incredibly laborious process, requiring numerous hands and teamwork.  Thousands of bottles are running down the line being labeled, capsuled, filled, foiled, and hand placed in case boxes, that are themselves stickered, stamped, and stacked.  Once bottled, the wines are not released right away, as they require bottle age to fully come together and out of bottle shock.

I have worked on a bottling line before, and it is one of the many steps of the winemaking process that is eye opening in terms of the amount of incredibly hard work that goes into making wine from grape to bottle.  When I bottled I got to take home wines at the end of the day that I hd helped bottle.  

I recently drank one, and it was a great feeling to be drinking something that I had a small part (very small part) in putting together.  Regardless, my hands were on the bottle at some point as it was going down the line, being placed hurriedly in a case box.

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Wine Enthusiast Magazine Scores, July 2010

Published on May 25, 2010 in Chardonnay, Lafond Winery, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara Winery, Santa Brabara Winery Resrve Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Wine News and Winery News. 0 Comments

 

 

 

 

90 Santa Barbara Winery 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley); $15. A beautiful Sauvignon Blanc that shows why this warmish Santa Barbara County valley is such a natural home for the variety. With crisp acidity and a creamy texture, it’s dry and minerally, with interestingly rich flavors of citrus fruits, melons and pears, and a touch of smoky oak. Editors’ Choice. —S.H.

87 Santa Barbara Winery 2008 ZCS (California); $13. This blend of Zinfandel, Carignane and Sangiovese probably tastes like the red wines the immigrants drank years ago. It’s bone dry and rustic and clean and pure, with modest alcohol. Wash it down with salumi, pasta marinara, or just a plain roast chicken.—S.H.

92 Santa Barbara Winery 2007 Reserve Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills); $22. This is an elaborate, oaky Chardonnay made in the popular style that has made California Chard such a success. It’s rich in pineapple jam, apricot, buttered toast, vanilla and leesy flavors, and grows better as it warms in the glass. —S.H. 

 90 Lafond 2007 SRH Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills); $22. Good price for such a nice Chardonnay from the Santa Rita Hills. The wine is very dry and crisp in acidity, with a bracing mouthfeel that offers rich, oak inspired flavors of pineapples, pears and green apples. Nice now with Ahi tuna tartare or grilled salmon. —S.H.

 90 Lafond 2006 Pinot Noir Lafond Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills); $48.This is a big, ripe, full-bodied and oaky Pinot Noir. It’s too powerful to drink now, unless you don’t mind immaturity. The raspberry, cherry and blood orange flavors are of the pie-filling type,and the oak sticks out in smoky, vanilla sweetness. Give it 4–5 years in the cellar to come around. Cellar Selection. —S.H.

Vintners’ Festival Recap

Published on April 19, 2010 in Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments

This past weekend’s Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival at River Park in Lompoc was, as always, a wine lover’s paradise.

Imagine a grass field full of every single County Vintners’ Association member winery, pouring their current releases under the cool shade of white tents.  Throw in some of the county’s best restaurants, serving up bite sized portions of their most flavorful representations of their menus.  Then add some live music, a tent giving away baby grapevines, and a crystal souvenir glass, and you’ve landed yourself in Santa Barbara wine heaven.

Our hits of the day were  the Lafond Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 2007, Santa Barbara Winery Late Harvest Riesling 2008, Santa Barbara Winery Petit Verdot 2007, and the Santa Barbara Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2007 (which just scored 92 points in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, scores to be released in the July issue).

Click Here for our list of Santa Barbara Winery Current Releases

Click Here for our list of Lafond Winery Current Releases

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Vintners’ Festival This Weekend!

Published on April 14, 2010 in Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Vintners Festival. 0 Comments

This Saturday, April 17, is the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival.  The Festival features the wines of 130+ member wineries of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association.  There will be wine, live music, samples from the county’s best restaurants, and a silent auction.

The entire weekend is full of festive celebrations, and at Lafond Winery, we will be enjoying the lively spirit of our annual open house, featuring new releases, snacks and our famous Taco Stand.  Stop by anytime from 10am-5pm on the day of the festival to take part in the festivities.

Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond will be participating in the Vintners’ Visa Pass – a long weekend free pass to taste at 12 participating wineries.  Up to 12 winery passes over a four day period for just $35, and only $25 when purchased with a Vintners’ Festival ticket.

Come celebrate springtime in wine country by taking part in the long Vintners’ Festival weekend!

Click Here to see pictures from last year’s event, taken by Bob Dickey.

The Festival will be held at River Park in Lompoc from 1-4pm on Saturday, April 17 2010.  Tickets are still available for $75 ($85 at the door)

The Henry Wine Group CA Trade Tastings

Published on March 15, 2010 in Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, Other News and Santa Barbara Winery. 0 Comments

Next week I will be traveling throughout California attending The Henry Wine Group Trade Tastings.  Our wine is distributed in California by The Henry Wine Group, and these tastings provide the opportunity to visit and engage three different markets: San Francisco (March 22), San Diego (March 24), and Los Angeles (March 25). 

These tastings are organized for members of the trade (hotels, restaurants, wine bars, etc.).  If you are in the trade and interested in attending, please contact me at winesales@sbwinery.com for registration inquiries.  The tastings will run from 11am-5pm.

Taste the World of The Henry Wine Group
March 22 2010   Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market St. San Francisco
March 24 2010   Hilton La Jolla, 10950 North Tory Pines Rd., La Jolla
March 25 2010   Beverly Hills Hotel, Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills

Winemaker Bruce McGuire will be helping me pour at the Beverly Hills tasting.
 
Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Lafond Winery & Vineyards Holiday Open House, December 5

Published on December 2, 2009 in Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery and Open House. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Come join as at Lafond Winery this Saturday, December 5 as we toast the Holiday season along with the rest of Sta. Rita Hills.  We will be having a Holiday Open House from 10am-5pm.  Join us for an artisan cheese spread, fresh bread and desserts that pair with our wines, while finding that perfect holiday gift for the wine lover on your list in our tasting room.

From the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance:

We love holidays here in Santa Barbara Wine Country, as they give us an opportunity to get together with friends and take a breather from life’s hustle and bustle. And the upcoming holidays are particularly celebratory!

The 2009 harvest is in and our towns and villages have that small-town feeling of excitement in the air. The first weekend in December is chock-full of open houses, special tastings, newly displayed gift items and a great time to come up and ‘get into the spirit’. Take a stroll through one of our villages, kick up the leaves in a park, take a cooking class, join a winemaker at dinner, shop for unique gifts in the tasting rooms or take a leisurely drive along one of our wine trails.
 
Many of the members of the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance are opening the doors to the wineries and cellars for Open Houses and special tastings throughout this weekend.  As many of these are not normally open to the public, this is your chance to come taste new and library wines, chat with the winemakers and owners about the current vintages and find that special bottle of wine for a gift or to grace your holiday tables.
 
Join us as we toast the season!

Click Here for the full list of events / open houses this weekend in the Sta. Rita Hills.

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Taste of the Town

Published on September 9, 2009 in Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments

The 28th Annual Taste of the Town will be held this Saturday, September 13 at the Riviera Park Gardens (12-3pm).  Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro and Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery are looking forward to participating at the beautiful venue alongside numerous local favorites.

ABOUT THE EVENT (from the official website)

Join us for an epicurean adventure! The Taste of the Town is Santa Barbara’s original tasting event, featuring savory samples from over 80 of Santa Barbara’s finest restaurants and premiere wineries. All proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
To view a list of participating restaurants and wineries, click here.

Taste of the Town
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Riviera Park Gardens
2030 Alameda Padre Serra
12:00-3:00 PM

Tickets are $100 pre-sale, and can be bought at the official Taste of the Town Website

2009 Malibu Wine Classic

Published on August 26, 2009 in Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments

Please join us at the 2009 Seventh Annual Malibu Wine Classic Charity Event benefitting Childhelp at the Malibu Civic Center this Saturday, August 29. 

 The Malibu Wine Classic showcases the Central Coast with the most highly regarded wineries from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, combined with top Malibu and Los Angeles area restaurants.

The tasting takes place in the courtyard setting of the Malibu Civic Center overlooking Santa Monica Bay, and benefits Childhelp, the largest non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, education, advocacy and treatment of child abuse.

The ever-popular afternoon “Grand Tasting” featuring tasting portions from more than 60 top selected wineries and almost two dozen restaurants, will take place from 1pm-4pm, with public advance purchase tickets available for $79 per person. A portion of the purchase price ($50) is a tax-deductible charitable donation to Childhelp, a national children’s charity.

- Malibu Wine Classic Official Website

Purchase Tickets

WHEN Saturday, August 29, 2009 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time Zone

WHERE Malibu Civic Center 23555 Civic Center Way Malibu, CA 90265 USA

ATTIRE Casual Attire

FEE Advanced Purchase $79.00 At The Door $100.00

Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Bella Arte at the Four Seasons Biltmore

Published on August 20, 2009 in Lafond Winery and Santa Barbara Winery. 0 Comments

Please join Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery tonight, August 20, at the Four Seasons Biltmore for wine tasting and beautiful local art, 5:30-7:30

Bella Arte Meets Bella Vista
Bella Vista has teamed up with Bottoms Art Galleries (located in the lobby) to offer bimonthly evenings that combine the art of fine dining with the fine arts of painting, sculpture and music. On these evenings, Bottoms Art Galleries will feature new works, works in progress, demonstrations and appearances by a featured artist.

The special exhibitions coincide with Bella Vista’s popular Thursday-night seafood buffet, which offers fresh lobster, shellfish, sushi and sashimi bars, a variety of salads and other favourites by Executive Chef Martin Frost.

  • June 11 – “Flowing with Life,” Rodolfo Rivademar
  • June 25 – “Ben and Bud,” Benjamin Brode and James “Bud” Bottoms
  • July 9 – “Drawing upon Dwellings,” Gil DiCicco and Leonardo Nunez
  • July 23 – “Arthology,” Ken Nack and Brad Nack
  • August 6 – “Camera and Chisel,” David Stroupe and JoAnne Duby
  • ** August 20 – “Hounds and Horses,” Joy Beckner and Katie Upton  **
  • September 3 – “Revealing the Figure,” Bruce Wolfe, Gil DiCicco and Simon Levenson
1260 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara 93108
 
Tel. 1 (805) 969-2261