Tag Archive for 'Syrah'

Harvest is almost over at Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Published on October 20, 2009 in Wine News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

We are getting near the end. All the whites have been picked and what is left of the reds, Syrah, will be picked next week.

Winemaker, Bruce McGuire, goes through the field and marks off what is ripe and ready and what is not. This may mean going back into the same block and same row several times during harvest. Ancient river beds, which is what most of the Santa Rita Hills Appelation comprises, have very uneven soil profiles which makes for uneven ripening. The low fertile areas are generally picked first and the more fertile, sometimes weeks later.

Photo shows the change in color in the Pinot Noir as the vines begin to close down. The other photo shows the last of the Pinot Noir being barrelled. In the background you can see part of the more than 325 Pinot Noir barrels from this harvest. Photos were taken today.

Harvest Update and Festival

Published on October 7, 2009 in Wine News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

As I prep for this weekend’s Harvest Festival and a sales trip to the Midwest next week, bins of grapes are being forklifted around everywhere I turn.  Today we got in Lafond Vineyard Wente Clone Chardonnay and Thompson Vineyard Chardonnay, and we are all so excited about the consistency and quality among the fruit.  2009 has been good to vintners and growers, we had a relatively cool, dry spring and summer with cool nights needed to maintain grape’s acidity.  Heat waves in late August and early September accelerated Harvest into full motion, and now the weather seems to be slowly cooling down. 

It’s not too late to buy your tickets to this weekend’s Harvest Festival, held this coming Saturday, October 10, from 1-4pm at Rancho Sisquoc Winery.  This is one of two events a year where all of the member of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association come together to pour their wines.  Lafond Winery will also be holding our annual Open House at the tasting room with new releases, plenty of bites and nibbles of cheeses, breads, and desserts.  This event will run from 10am-5pm this Saturday.

We are still waiting for more Chardonnay and Riesling to come into the downtown Santa Barbara Winery facility and still waiting on Syrah and Grenache up at Lafond…

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

Santa Barbara Winery New Release

Published on July 4, 2009 in Wine News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

2006 Grenache Syrah

After three decades of wine growing in the Santa Rita Hills, Pierre Lafond and winemaker Bruce McGuire are still experimenting with unconventional varieties in this very cool growing region. Following their successful introduction of Syrah to Santa Rita Hills in the early 1990’s, they are now onto their second vintage of this Grenache/Syrah blend.

Utilizing Syrah from neighbor vineyard, Hilltop Ranch (right across the dirt road) and Grenache that Bruce sourced from the Byron Vineyard up in Santa Maria, Bruce has crafted a wine showing the cool climate spiciness of Syrah and the bright red fruit flavors of Grenache.

The Grenache dominates the blend and helps to tame the Syrah making this middle weight wine more approachable than straight Syrah, and thus easier to pair with a wider range of foods. A delightful wine to have with Spanish tapas, lighter meats, or an afternoon repast of olives, cow’s milk cheeses and fresh bread. This wine should show complete flavor development by the end of 2008 and be quite enjoyable through 2010.

Suggested Retail 22.00
To Order: Santa Barbara Winery

Upcoming SBW & Lafond Tasting at East Beach Wine

Published on June 19, 2009 in Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

If you live in or close to Santa Barbara, perhaps you have visited one of the Friday night tastings hosted by East Beach Wine Company.  I love attending because they put together a fantastic line up week after week of interesting wineries, themes, or distributor hosts.  June 26 they will feature Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Winery hosted by David Lafond and George Fakinos (Local Wholesale).  Pop in, say hi, and taste anytime from 4-7pm at East Beach Wine Shop on Milpas St.  Here is how it is advertised on their website.

June 26 – Lafond Winery & Santa Barbara Winery

Hosted by David Lafond, George Fakinos, and others

Featuring the Lafond wines and our best-selling Santa Barbara Winery wines.

Bruce McGuire, Winemaker Lafond Winery and Santa Barbara Winery. President of Santa Barbara Winery. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in entymology Bruce spent several years working for wineries in Northern California before coming to Santa Barbara Winery in 1981 as winemaker. In that time his wines have received numerous awards and his abilities national recognition.

Bruce was one of the pioneers in the developement of Pinot Noir and Syrah in Santa Barbara County and in California. When Bruce first arrived at the winery he asked that we plant Pinot Noir in our Lafond Vineyard, which we did. Pinot Noir, largely ignored in most of California, has found its true home in Santa Barbara County. As winemaker Bruce controls the total process, from the selection of varieties and clones to plant in the vineyard, to farming practices, cultivation, pruning and when to pick. Accordingly the wines reflect his style and philosophy of winemaking. Bruce lives in Santa Barbara.

David Lafond, General Manager Lafond Winery and Vineyards. David, a native of Santa Barbara, has for many years been a General Contractor. He was, in fact, the general contractor for the new Lafond Winery overseeing the construction and installation of equipment for more than a year. David has been involved with the winery since childhood and will now manage the operations of both the vineyard and the Lafond Winery.

www.eastbeachwine.com
8.00 per person
201 S. Milpas St.

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

Santa Barbara Winery New Release

Published on June 2, 2009 in Wine News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

2007 Santa Ynez Valley Syrah

Winemaker Bruce McGuire is an early pioneer in blending Syrah grown throughout the west-east traverse of the Santa Ynez Valley. Because Syrah is proving to be the rare example of a varietal that can be grown in all the temperature zones found in our valley, blending vineyards becomes an intriguing endeavor.

This bottling of Syrah highlights both the cool climate white pepper and lavendar forward flavors and the jammier full fruitcharacter experienced in the back of the mouth courtesy of the warmer eastern Santa Ynez Valley. In 2007, Bruce crafted a blend of about three quarters cool climate Lafond Vineyard and neighboring Hill Top Ranch in the Santa Rita Hills with one quarter warm climate Joughin Vineyard near Los Olivos.

Most of the wine aged in small 60 gallon French and Hungarian barrels as Syrah benefits from ample barrel aging. A smaller than average crop from the our vineyard manager’s Santa Ynez Joughin Vineyard meant that a higher percentage of Santa Rita Hills fruit appears in the blend.

A small amount of Grenache (4%) was added to enhance the aromatics of the finished wine. In the bottle, 2010 to 2013 will be the prime drinking window for this wine. Pair with rustic fare, slightly charred grilled meats, and washed rind cheeses.

Retail: 20.00(750ml)
To order: Santa Barbara Winery

A Trip to Santa Barbara

Published on May 17, 2009 in Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, Pierre Lafond Bistro and Santa Barbara Winery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Santa Barbara wine and fashion pioneers Pierre Lafond and Wendy Foster have spent the past few decades establishing and building an empire with businesses spread out between Montecito’s glitzy upper and lower villages, bustling State Street, and the serene vineyard packed Sta. Rita Hills.  An ocean side drive that spans about an hour in length can get you from one end of their trail to the other – shopping, wine and dining along the way.  

Trip length 2 days

Day 1

Pierre Lafond Market and Deli where a cluster of Pierre Lafond and Wendy Foster businesses are located on San Ysidro Road.  Enjoy wraps, sandwiches, deli entrees, and salads outside on the foliage-filled patio.  

Just next door from the Market, Wendy Foster has laid claim to three of the most talked about boutiques in Santa Barbara – Wendy Foster Dress Shop, Wendy Foster Sportswear, and home décor shop Upstairs.  The stores have been fixtures in Montecito since 1964.  Pick up an outfit for dinner at Wendy Foster and some colorful table accents for your home Upstairs.  

Make your way down to the lower village and walk up Coast Village Rd. to stop at Angel, a more contemporary and trend flaired boutique with labels like Vince, Juicy Couture, and whimsical Rebecca Taylor designs.   

From Coast Village Rd., head north into downtown Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone for a wine tasting at Santa Barbara Winery, the oldest post-Prohibition winery in Santa Barbara County.  Tasting hours are from 10am-5pm, and wine tasting includes six wines and your crystal logo glass ($5).  Sample award winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and lesser-known varietals such as Primitivo.   

Walk from wine tasting a few blocks up State Street to the Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro for dinner – bring a bottle from the winery and receive free corkage with your entrees.  Seasonal and fresh menu items from Flatbreads to Grilled Duck Breast are wine friendly and masterfully constructed.  Huge windows allow the space to be full of light until the sun goes down, and an outdoor patio is perfect for State Street people watching over your meal.  

Day 2

Return to the Pierre Lafond Bistro for breakfast and pick up a picnic lunch to bring up to the Lafond Vineyard for more wine tasting at the estate vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley.  Thick Cut French Toast from the Griddle, Omelets, Scrambles, and Santa Maria Grilled Tri Tip with Eggs are among the AM menu.  

Hit the road with your box lunches and drive 45 minutes along the coast to Lafond Vineyard to sample the wines from Santa Barbara Winery’s sister winery.  The vineyard was planted in 1972 and provides fruit for both labels under the guidance of winemaker Bruce McGuire.  Taste through a selection of vineyard and Sta. Rita Hills appellation designated (SRH series) Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah at the vineyard site and enjoy an outdoor picnic over looking the yellowed and vibrant hillsides of the valley. 

www.pierrelafond.com
www.wendyfoster.com
www.sbwinery.com
www.upstairsatpierrelafond.com
www.lafondwinery.com

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

Lamb and Red Wine Pairing

Published on May 10, 2009 in Grenache, Joanie Hudson and Wine and Food Pairing. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

I wasn’t aware that lamb had a season, but apparantly it is spring.  Lamb has long been a very versatile meat to pair with wines, but sometimes is overlooked.  Rhone reds (origins from France’s Rhone Valley) from Grenache and Syrah to earthy blends of these varietals are a favorite of mine to pair with this rich, almost sweetly flavored and earthy red meat.  Remember that when pairing wines with foods, one of the most important considerations is in the sauce of the dish.  Hence why these rules of varietal – meat category can be silly.  Try an oven roasted, herb dusted lamb with our 2006 Santa Barbara Winery Grenache.

Here is an excerpt and link to the full article of a fun article I found on pairing lamb with red wines, remarking on its versatility.

Spring is lamb season. That in turn means it’s wine season, as lamb is the most wine-friendly meat. It pairs beautifully with Cabernets, Rhônes, and—my newest discovery—Pinot Noir.

A classic Cabernet’s minty/herbal side goes with the grassiness of lamb (which, traditionally, can be served with a mint sauce), while Rhône reds (the grape is usually Syrah or Grenache) often possess an earthiness that flatters lamb’s meaty complexity. But Pinot Noir illustrates an important lesson of food-and-wine pairing: It’s sometimes better to go for contrast than harmony.

Click here for the full article at Chow.com

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

2009 Vintners’ Festival Recap

Published on April 19, 2009 in Joanie Hudson and Vintners Festival. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

I think that my favorite part about being on the pouring side of the table at the Vintners’ Festival is hearing peoples’ “tasting strategies” for navigating through the tremendous amounts of wines available to sample.  An intimidating venue? Maybe. But those who stuck with a strategic plan seemed to be pleased with their journies. 

While Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah are grown most successfully in Santa Barbara County, the variety beyond these wines is impressive.  Winemakers are growing these grapes while also experimenting with lesser known varietals, and this was evident at the festival. 

We had a range of wines to please different palates from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Negrette, Primitivo, Riesling, and a wax sealed magnum of golden Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc.  A few tasters were only tasting Pinot Noirs, a few only Chardonnay, and a few were seeking out the small number of tables who were pouring a dessert wine or two.  And then there were the smirking faces of those who only wanted to taste the winemaker’s favorite, or flagship wine. 

The Lompoc event, held at River Park, was heavily attended, and the grass park venue was a perfect stomping ground for a beautiful (and unlike last year, warm) day.  The Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association hosts bi-annual gatherings like this for all of the member wineries to come together and proudly pour their wines for industry friends and guests.  The Vintners’ Festival (Spring) and the Harvest Festival (Fall) should not be missed by Central Coast wine lovers trying to keep up with what’s fresh, new, and delicious. 

I did get a chance to get out there and taste a couple of favorites (Palmina and Flying Goat Pinot Noirs).

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

Vintners’ Festival Wines

Published on April 15, 2009 in Joanie Hudson, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Here are the wines that we will be pouring for the Santa Barbara Winery label at the Vintners’ Festival this Saturday, April 18.

2007 Chardonnay

Our Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is a lightly oaked, multi-vineyard blend.  45% barrel fermentation with the remainder done in stainless steel tanks produces a bright intensity of fruit and round mouthfeel.

2007 Pinot Noir

Velvety flavor and aromatic concentration jump out of the glass of our 2007 Pinot Noir.  Yields from our estate Lafond Vineyard and neighbor vineyard Arita Hills were low in this particular vintage due to a late frost.  These sites combine the juiciest berries from select vineyard rows, producing a classically soft textured Pinot Noir.

2006 Negrette Joughin Vineyard

Negrette traces its origins to the warm climate area north of Toulouse in southwestern France where it is known for its dark color and fragrant berry aroma and flavor.  Fans of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon usually are the most pleased when tasting this wine and are always intrigued by its obscure presence in the wine world.

2006 Primitivo Joughin Vineyard

Primitivo has recently been shown to be genetically identical to Zinfandel. Growing well in warmer climates, it has a more “sun kissed” quality than wines that come from cooler areas in Italy, such as Tuscany or Piedmont.  Primitivo is dark red with bold fruity flavors and an intense essence of sweetness while being bone dry.

2007 Riesling 7.3

The “7.3″ represents the amount of residual sugar in this Riesling.  On the sweeter side, its medium body is buoyed by sleek acidity and crisp ripe fruit and honeysuckle.  Very harmonious and leaves a lasting impression.

It’s not too late to purchase tickets for the Vintners’ Festival!

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery