Nestled in the Santa Rita Hills of the western Santa Ynez Valley, Lafond Vineyard is ideally situated to produce Pinot Noir exhibiting
the unique and exotic flavor profile one finds in only a few regions of the world.
Specific areas within our vineyard exhibit elevated concentration and complexity due to soil and exposure to the elements. We have also planted eight distinct clones of Pinot Noir, each with subtle differences in flavor and aroma.
The Lafond Vineyard Pinot Noir is Winemaker Bruce McGuire’s selection of those vines that fully express the character found in our vineyard.
The 2006 Pinot Noir was harvested on ten days from September 24 th to October 2nd. 2006 yielded an average crop size with small clusters. Bruce chose four clones from five of the least vigorous vineyard lots (clones 667, 777, 115, and 4) to make this highly structrued wine.
He experimented with parallel shoot positioning, which showed very well, increasing succulence and fruit intensity. The potential of this Pinot Noir should start to show itself as soon as 2009 with aging rewarded through 2013.
The complexity and depth of flavor make this Pinot Noir a great match with savory foods such as lamb, Copper River salmon, hearty sushi, and dark mushroom dishes.
Suggested Retail 48.00/750ml
To order:
Winemaker Bruce McGuire was able to travel throughout western Santa Barbara County choosing several vineyards (including Scheid Vineyard up in Monterey County) for this multi-vineyard blend.
These vineyards meet Bruce’s standards for viticultural practices and growing conditions suitable to make this full-bodied yet eminently approachable Chardonnay. All the grapes for this wine were pressed as whole clusters and 55% of the wine fermented in stainless steel without undergoing malolactic frementation.
These two steps lend brightness to the fruit intensity that then integrates with the mouth pleasing weight and supple flavors enhanced by barrel fermentation. Our Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is a good all around choice to satisfy a wide variety of foods.
With enough structure to age for five to seven years, we think this wine is very enjoyable two years after the vintage year. This is truly a Santa Barbara County blend from warmer Los Alamos to cooler Sta. Rita Hills.
This nicely balanced wine is a great choice for service with roast chicken, sea bass, and pasta. Try with a mixed fruit and nut platter featuring a selection of light to mild semi hard cheeses.
Suggested Retail: 15.00/750ml
To Order: Santa Barbara Winery
Click images to enlarge:
Chocolate Pairing – 6 wines and 6 different chocolates, paired by manager Suzanne Firzgerald, was very successful. Although, after 6 truffles no one was very interested in buying more chocolates.
The chocolates were made the day before by chocolatier Jean-Michel of ‘Chocolats du Cali’ in their Carpinteria location. It is an event that we are sure to repeat. If you missed this one and would like to be notified the next time call us at 805 963 3633 or send us an Email.
California’s 2009 grape harvest is the second largest in history according to a recent article from the LA Times.
Wineries in the state crushed 3.7 million tons of grapes last year, up about 20% compared with a relatively light 2008, and nearing the record 2005 harvest.
All major varietals showed growth, with chardonnay leading the pack in volume at about 726,000 tons, up 28% from the 2008 harvest. Pinot grigio, at 145,330 tons, boasted the largest percentage increase — up 61% compared with the year before.
The preliminary numbers are part of an annual report released by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The increase is expected to slow competition from out-of-state wineries, which benefited from a slow 2008, said John Ciatti, partner in the Ciatti Co. grape and wine brokerage.
Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards
Here’s a link to a great new business related website a couple of my friends started.
NewBizViews
NewBizViews (NBV) is dedicated to creating a dialogue about new business trends among young professionals. We try to provide a middle ground between traditional publications and open-forum business blogs through peer-reviewed content presented in a relaxed and interactive format.
Our site is organized around the passions and interests of our editors and contributors. Because each member of the NBV team brings a different viewpoint and set of interests, the thread that holds everything together is our perspective on the news.
Our pieces are forward-looking, focusing on innovative business models, emerging secular trends and new approaches to fields like finance, social enterprise, media and business policy.
Feel free to follow us online, or better yet, join the discussion by contributing a post. Just send us the content and we’ll have you up and engaged in the conversation in no time.
Uncorked: The “New Normal” in the Wine Industry
…
Wine will always be sold, and consumption is on the rise if anything, but the market has shifted and price point has become and will continue to be much more important as competition floods in. Greater focus on efficiency, packaging, branding, and down-and-dirty hand selling is becoming an industry standard that will surely lead the way to a new era in the wine industry….
Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards
Foster’s (beer) new label continues to cause confusion. Many have written in support and we would like to thank the blog ’A Long Pour’ for their excellent and informative article.
This is an excerpt of the article. The full article can be read at A Long Pour:
With more wineries entering the market every year, and more Corporations doing the same, clashes between the two groups are inevitable. Santa Barbara Winery has operated in Santa Barbara, of course, since 1962, Founded by Pierre Lafond, it is the oldest winery in the county.
The family owns and operates two wineries; Santa Barbara Winery focusing on value based Rhone varietals, and Lafond Winery, which operates out of the prestigious Santa Rita Hills. Santa Barbara Winery has its tasting room and winery based in downtown Santa Barbara, not far from Kalyra, Oreana, Carr Winery, and others. Recently however, the winery has felt that the name they’ve spent almost fifty years building has been threatened.
With Santa Barbara County producing some of the highest scoring Pinot Noirs, Syrah, and other varietals, the potential for profit remains tremendous. Like many other entrepreneurs, the corporate world has also taken notice. Recently, a new brand has emerged on the Central Coast. Santa Barbara Wine Company officially launches this month with a vintage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
For obvious reasons, Santa Barbara Winery has been deeply concerned about the potential for confusion in the market place, given how similar the two names are. “We are deeply disappointed and upset that Foster’s is attempting to create a label so similar to ours using the Santa Barbara name” Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing for Santa Barbara Winery told me via email. Some have suggested the added marketing of the name ‘Santa Barbara” could be a windfall for Santa Barbara Winery, But Joanie doesn’t agree.
“Confusion in the market-place is never a good thing and in the market-place David does not slay Goliath, just the opposite.” There is also concern that although the grapes are to be sourced from Santa Barbara County, the wines are to be produced outside the County in Paso Robles, a fact confirmed to me by a company spokesperson. I have heard some rumblings that Santa Barbara Wine Company is taking steps to gain full and restricted use of the name Santa Barbara on wine labels. But my area of greatest concern comes from their marketing approach…
We’ll pair a special tasting list with artisan chocolates from local chocolatier Chocolates du Cali Bressan. Come sample some wine and luxurious chocolate to celebrate the long romantic weekend.
Saturday 2/13 – Monday 2/15 10-5pm
Tasting Room, Santa Barbara Winery
Wine Club members 7.50
Non-members 15.00
From Choclats du Cali website:
Those of you already familiar with “Le CaliBressan” from France can now enjoy Jean-Michel’s delicious artisan chocolates created fresh right here in the United States! If you are not already acquainted with us and our chocolates, please explore the surprising imagination of Chef Jean-Michel and his “zesty” wife Jill.
Jean-Michel’s experience and creative culinary skills have earned him many world-wide accolades in magazines, brochures, and traveling guides, including “Rick Steves,” and the well known French tour guide, “Michelin Vert.”
Nestled in the Santa Rita Hills of the western Santa Ynez Valley, Lafond Vineyard is ideally situated to produce Pinot Noir exhibiting
Recent Comments