By Rick Riozza
No one here in the Coachella Valley needs to remind our wine enthusiast community that we live relatively close to one of the premier wine regions in the world: Santa Barbara. Indeed! We CV’ers purchase almost as much Pinot Noir from the South Central Coast as we do from Sonoma County.
As the fall season will soon be upon us, the up-coming September 30th edition of Wine Spectator magazine treats us to “an ultimate road trip focused on exploring Santa Barbara wine country through the lens of the region’s exciting Pinot Noir.” Readers of this edition will enjoy a full-on wine traveler reveal of the area and its culinary delights.
So it’s nice to be alerted again to the idea of a convenient wine jaunt where we can get to Santa Barbara wine country in over 4 hours or so, especially if we avoid the downtown L.A. traffic by taking the west 210 to Santa Clarita and getting over to the Ventura 101 by way of the peaceful stretch on the 126; and that particular stretch is a nice California rustic drive, especially in the morning hours.
Back in 2004 when the wine fan’s favorite Academy Award winning movie “Sideways” was released, many of the uninitiated quickly became aware of the sights and tastes of the bucolic Santa Barbara wine country. Now, 20 years later, there are a throng of more wine tourist spots all along the area that include over 350 wineries and tasting rooms, five star restaurants, and fancy lodging.
Some reporting highlights of the WS article’s coverage include: “For most people, a mention of Santa Barbara of the American Riviera’s sunny beaches and the swaying palm trees. And though the city of Santa Barbara has no vineyards, there are dozens of tasting rooms, and starting or ending the trip beach-side adds layers of allure for any curious traveler. And an easy 45-minute drive northwest puts you in the area’s wine producing center.”
“Over the past few decades, the region has been quietly maturing, peeling away the Wild West veneer while adding an astute wine culture. Today, Santa Barbara wine country sits where the ranch meeting “riviera” and evokes an aura of discovery.”
“Wine lovers will be pleased to find that the magnetism of the bucolic valley matches that of the beachy enclave of downtown Santa Barbara, complete with dozens of small wineries making terroir-driven wines from an impressive array of micro-climates, plus destination-worthy restaurants.
“The rural hamlet of Los Olivos typifies the region’s transformation. The small town with Victorian-style buildings has become a nucleus of Santa Barbara wine country, boasting 30+ tasting rooms, as well as several eateries and boutique shopping.”
“Beyond Los Olivos, the neighboring towns of Los Alamos, Solvang, Buellton, and Lompoc each provide their own distinctive vibes. Los Alamos is a blink-and-you-might-miss-it township but home to arguably the regions’ best restaurants: Bell’s.
“Solvang is a charming Danish-style village featuring storybook-like architecture of windmills and gabled roofs on seemingly every corner. It is easily walkable and has plenty of hotels and food options, including a concentration of Danish bakeries: Ableskivers, anyone!!”
“Lompoc is the farthest west and home to many of the region’s wineries, most clustered in an industrial complex known as the Wine Ghetto on the edge of town. Here, you’re liable to find a winemaker pass through during your tasting or even one serving you!”
For you wine nerds, take note that, “Santa Barbara County is geologically influenced by millions of years of being under the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a foundational bedrock of marine sedimentary rocks.”
“As to the wines, soil parcels range from clay-based in lower lying areas to a mix of lighter clay topsoils, fractured shale and diatomaceous earth rich in silica from fossilized algae, as they rise in elevation. Diatomaceous earth is unique to the Santa Rita Hills AVA, and as far as we know—there is nowhere else on earth were vineyards on that type of material”!!
Ah-ah! So that’s why we Pinot Noir enthusiasts love the Sta. Rita Hills stuff! World class Pinot Noir Indeed!
And now—some very interesting Pinot Noir/Sta. Rita Hills examples: 2022 Domaine de la Côté Pinot Noir ($150). “This sports dark cherry, currant and raspberry fruit flavors that are mulled in feel but kept taut and lively by a torrent of acidity, while sage, warm earth, white pepper, savory and flint notes bounce around.” WS 96 pts. What a seasonal gift that would make!
2022 Brewer Clifton Sta. Rita Hills 459 ($75). “With notes of perfumed blood orange preserves and mulled kirsch leading the way, this stylish version’s elegant, well-embedded acidity lets a backdrop of singed anise, savory, and iris notes develop steadily, adding length and range though the finish.” WS 95 Pts. Wow! That description sounds like it’ll make a great movie as well!
2022 Sandhi Sta. Rita Hills ($45). “This bristles with a bright savory streak that fully permeates the core of bitter cherry and damson plum, while sage green tea and pepper notes dark around. The long taut, pinpoint finish leaves a lingering twang of iron.” WS 93 Pts.
And finally, definitely a local fan favorite is the 2022 Sanford Sta. Rita Hills ($50). “Fresh mulberry and cherry fruit brings nice lift with light iris and rose petal notes darting through on the racy finish.” WS 90 Pts.
Our thanks to Wine Spectator magazine for their excellent coverage. Look for this September edition on the racks and/or in your public library. It’s a keepsake for the local traveler. Cheers!
