We had a great time pouring at the 2009 Harvest Festival this past Saturday — the wines and the turnout were spectacular.
I love the setup of this Festival. Though they attempt to make it alphabetical, it never quite turns out that way, and it can be a maze to find what you’re looking for. But that causes guests to stumble upon wineries or restaurants that they may have otherwise passed if only going by their checklist of places they know they like.
I talked to a handful of people who were pleased with their happy accidents. The venue is beautiful — a grassy, soft hilled area at Rancho Sisquoc Winery in Santa Maria. White tents are backdropped by the rolling Santa Ynez hillsides, blue skies, and grazing livestock.
I was prepared for cold, as when we left Downtown Santa Barbara a little before 11, it was socked in grey. But once we passed over the 154 Highway, that sock quickly disappeared and it was all blue skies from there…
Santa Barbara Winery poured seven wines:
2007 Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Chardonnay
2007 Chardonnay Reserve
2007 Riesling 7.3%
2008 ZCS
2006 Lagrein
2006 Petite Sirah
The Petite Sirah was a perfect match with the individual lamb legs served up by Solvang’s new restaurant, Root 246. Delicious.
Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards
Today was a big Harvest day for Chardonnay. Winemaker Bruce just told me that we got in about 85 tons (ONE ton is about 2000 pounds!) of the varietal, which makes up the largest portion of our total production. Chardonnay came in from our newer block of Wente clone at Lafond Vineyard, Thompson Vineyard, and Los Alamos.
Tomorrow Joughin Vineyard Primitivo (genetically identical to Zinfandel) is coming in. Also, Thompson Vineyard Petite Sirah will come off the vines and into Lafond Winery.
Fork lifts are still beeping, and I’m making some export stickers for bottles going to Germany (2006 Lagrein and 2008 Orange Muscat).
If you like the music on our website, come see Chris Fossek live at Lafond Winery’s Open House this Saturday October 10, 10am-5pm. And even if you don’t, you should still come…
Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards
2006 Joughin Vineyard Lagrein
Lagrein is one of the indigenous grapes grown around the town of Bolzano in the Alto Adige; Italy’s northern most wine growing region. Locally known for its big, rich tannins and very dark color, this is a remarkable food wine.
The key is a richness of fruit character, instead of hard tannins that delights and surprises the mouth at the same time. “This grape yields the darkest, most saturated wine I’ve experienced”, remarked Winemaker Bruce McGuire. Mr. Andrew Joughin, who also happens to be the vineyard manager at our Lafond Vineyard, planted the Joughin Vineyard.
It was his idea to look for unusual grape varieties from around the world that would be suitable for his soils and Los Olivos climate. Of course Bruce was happy to offer some suggestions that would also add to the wide variety of wines he makes for Santa Barbara Winery.
We got Andrew to plant a couple more rows because we continue to be impressed by this varietal. The seven tons of fruit from this four acre section gave us a concentrated, lush, and fruit forward, wine.
Pair with polenta and stewed meats as well as pasta in light tomato garlic sauce. This is also a great wine to taste with cheeses such as Camembert, Fontina, semihard Gouda, or your own selection in the fresh goat’s milk catagory. This wine should age nicely through 2010.
Suggested Retail: 30.00/750ml
To Order:
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday you have the whole day to bask in the company of loved ones. In celebration of the holiday we will have a special tasting list starting February 11th and wrapping up on the 16th. We carefully selected wines that are appropriate for the holiday from what foods they pair well with to the flavors that are brought forward.
Wines to enjoy on Valentines Day…
Limited Time Valentines Day Tasting List
2007 Riesling 1.7
2007 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County
2007 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Lagrein
1999 Zinfandel Essence
We are open daily from 10am-5pm for tasting. Tasting is just five dollars and includes your crystal glass.
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery
Glancing through our current wine releases there are a handful of varietals whose obscurity can be daunting to even those with an advanced wine knowledge. All of the questions that I receive about these wines from the Negrette to the Lagrein has prompted me to write a series of short articles to explain each of these grapes and discuss their history and place in the wine world.
Lagrein is a varietal that comes from Northern Italy, bordering the Austrian Alps, just north of the city of Bolzano in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. The area has been one of political turmoil throughout the years, bouncing between Austrian, Italian, and briefly German rule. Before World War I, Bolzano was part of the Austro-Hungarian county of Tyrol, but it was annexed by Italy in the post-war treaties (Treaty of Saint-Germain). It was seized by Germany during World War II, but returned shortly thereafter when Germany fell. Today it is part of Italy.
Lagrein is an intense and deeply garnet hued wine whose rich fruit and naturally bright acidity make it a delicious match for big flavors on the dinner plate. It is saturated, thick, and juicy – a definite “lip stain.” As a red it is also known as Lagrein Dunkel and as a rose it is sometimes referred to as Lagrein Kretzer.
The four acres we have planted at Joughin Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley are part of the small acreage that is planted to Lagrein in the Central Coast. Aside from its native Trentino-Alto Adige, it can also be found in limited quantities in Australia and Oregon’s Umpqua Valley appellation.
2005 Santa Barbara Winery Lagrein
30.00 per bottle
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery
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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