What makes our growing region (AVA) unique?
Lafond Vineyard is planted in the acclaimed Sta. Rita Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area). In 2001, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) approved this designated area as its own unique appellation within the larger Santa Ynez AVA. Today there are three federally approved appellations in Santa Barbara County – Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley.
AVA designations are put in place to provide consumers with clear information in regards to the area that the wine was grown. Climatic and geographical influences are considered as well as slope and soil type. These factors are all very important components that influence the wine. The appeal to create a distinct AVA for the Sta. Rita Hills was put in place for these reasons – the distinct geological uniqueness of the area, combination of slope, climate (maritime), soil (sandy alluvial), and a desire to distinguish the western edge of Santa Ynez.
Our winemaker Bruce has said that it is not uncommon for temperature to drop one degree per mile as you drive closer to the ocean. Our vineyard is flanked by two east-west mountain ranges (Purisima Hills in the north and Santa Rosa Hills in the south) that funnel cool morning fog into the valley, thereby extending our growing season and creating wines of intense concentration and excellent acidity. Burgundian varietals, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, flourish in this climate.
Syrah plantings in the region have a pronouced white pepper and lavendar aromatic profile compared to Syrah planted in the warmer inland area. It is a demonstration of two styles of Syrah both coming out of Santa Barbara County, and appellation labelling helps customers differentiate between the type of Syrah they are tasting or purchasing.
The Sta. Rita Hills AVA stretches roughly from Buellton on the east to Lompoc on the west. The unusual occurence of east-west rolling hills on the north and south are the other borders.
Lafond Vineyard was one of the first vineyards planted in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in 1972.
Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards
Lafond Winery 2007 SRH Chardonnay
Located in the western Santa Ynez Valley, the Santa Rita Hills AVA is an ideal environment for growing intensely flavored full-bodied Chardonnay. This AVA is distinguished by a very cool and long growing season created by a convergence of unusual geography in this part of California.
During the summer, heat rising from the Mojave Desert 90 miles inland and the eastern boundary of our unique east-west system of mountains and valleys draws in cold air from the Pacific Ocean 15 miles to our West. This guarantees cool days and chilly nights during the long growing season of the nine-mile length of the Santa Rita Hills AVA.
A blend of three neighboring vineyards, the 2007 Chardonnay SRH is winemaker Bruce McGuire’s selection to showcase the ripe, concentrated Chardonnay for which the Santa Rita Hills is known.
2007 was one of those years that Winemaker Bruce McGuire had an embarassment of riches as a smaller than normal crop yielded excellent fruit quality (small clusters and berries) through most of the Chardonnay blocks from our Lafond Vineyard, our neighbor Hill Top Ranch, and the old Sanford and Benedict Vineyard just down Santa Rosa Road.
This wine is a good choice to pair with many cows’ milk cheeses such as Brie or Camembert, and as a nice surprise, the fantastic washed-rind triple-creme Cow Girl Creamery Red Hawk. Richer foods such as roast chicken or whole farm raised striped bass are also ideal pairings. This bottling will reward aging through 2013 and promises to be quite showy through 2016.
Suggested retail: 22.00/750ml
To order:
Lafond Winery 2007 SRH Syrah
After over a quarter century of making Cabernet Sauvignon from our Lafond Vineyard, winemaker Bruce McGuire is now sourcing this grape from vineyards on the warmer eastern side of the Santa Ynez Valley. While we still mourn our departed Cabernet vines, we now look forward to learning from this grape planted in a more traditional climate than our very cool growing area and tended to by very professional wine growers. The 2006 vintage was primarily grown in the Grassini Vineyard located in Happy Canyon on the warmer, eastern side of the Santa Ynez Valley. Bruce was able to utilize three clones of Cabernet from this small vineyard as well as a sprinkling of Lagrein from the Joughin Vineyard to add to the mid-palate texture and spice. Throw in the barrel selection, and you have an intellectual smorgasbord of flavor and texture to blend into this final offering…Bruce had so much fun with these variables that he gave the must a long, forty-seven day maceration for complete flavor extraction. The flavors are high-toned and dark berry focused so decanting and air time are highly recommended to help this Cabernet show off its concentrated fruit character through 2010. A very good choice for beef or hearty pasta (including tagliatelle pasta with butter sauce). Cellaring from 2011 through 2013 should be amply rewarded.
Suggested Retail: 23.00/750ml
To order:
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