White Wines Descriptions

We currently make three white wines. They are described briefly below. Each is quite different and each has a flavor profile that lends itself to various foods.

These grapes have been vinified using yeasts that promote its natural flavor profile, without introducing any sweetness other than that which is naturally in the fruit. To emulate a true Italian style wine, we picked this fruit at 22 BRIX. (BRIX is a measure of the natural sugars in the grape. The higher the number the more sugar.), and at a pH of 3.16. The wine that resulted from these grapes is a crisp, white wine that maintains elements of fruit and flavor that pair well with fish, shellfish, and chicken or rabbit. (27 cases produced)

Roussanne is a Rhone style wine made from grapes of the same name. In France, this wine was used for blending most of the time, but in California it has become a varietal of its own as well as a wine used in blends. Our fruit comes from the Santa Ynez Valley. These grapes were harvested at 26.6 Brix and a pH of 3.71. As you can see, this is a totally different wine profile from our Pinot Grigio. Characteristics of Roussanne include honeysuckle, honey, and flowers. Yet, it is a dry wine that can be drunk alone or paired with dishes.

We do very little processing in order not to disturb the relationship between fruit and balance. This white wine should not be poured very cold. Temperatures below about 50° F. usually inhibit the nose, and negate the floral tones of this wine. Serving this Roussanne too cold will accomplish what we have tried to assiduously avoid. (90 cases produced (90 cases produced)

This wine is made from fruit we grow in our vineyard, as well as with fruit purchased from Northern San Luis Obispo County. Our fruit is "cool weather" fruit as it is grown in a region near the coast that enjoys warm days and cool nights. The fruit we purchase is "warm weather" fruit, and is grown in an area where the days are hot and the nights warm. This combination of warm and cool weather fruit allows us to balance the acidity and fruit nuances of our wines. Typically cool weather fruit is more acidic than warm weather fruit. Thus, by blending we are able to titrate the acidity and balance of this as well as our other cool-warm weather wines. (Pinot Noir and Syrah). Our Sauvignon Blanc is fruity, but dry, and offers a clean bright finish. It is a great food friendly wine. (50 cases produced).

Fruit for our Roussanne comes from the Santa Ynez Valley. In 2007 grapes were harvested at 26.0° Brix and a pH of 3.65. Characteristics of Roussanne include honeysuckle, honey, and flowers. It is pleasantly spicy in the finish, which makes it a great wine for food pairings.

One interesting aspect of Roussanne is that it has been described as a Red Wine drinkers, White wine. It ages very well, tends to become more and more mellow with time, but retains its characteristic Roussanne flavors. Half of this wine was aged in Hungarian oak barrels, and half in Stainless steel. This combination offers the opportunity to make a very balanced wine that has only the very slightest hint of oak.

We do very little processing in order not to disturb the relationship between fruit and balance. This is a white wine which should not be poured very cold. Temperatures below about 45-50° F. usually inhibit the nose, and negate the floral tones of this wine. Serving this 2007 Roussanne too cold will accomplish what we have tried to assiduously avoid. (70 cases produced)

Our vineyard was damaged in 2007, and not Sauvignon Blanc fruit was harvested there from. Fortunately we were able to purchase fruit, and from the Fess Parker Ranch - the same ranch from which our Roussanne is purchased. The area of the ranch is one where the days are hot and the nights warm to cool. This combination results in balanced fruit.

The Sauvignon Blanc fruit was picked in September or 2007 at 24.0° Brix , and a pH of 3.27. Both parameters were perfect and offered the opportunity to develop a classic Sauvignon Blanc. This wine was bottled in April of 2008 and spent its entire developmental life in Stainless steel. It was not allowed to undergo Malolactic (secondary) fermentation. The result is a very nice wine that offers only a hint of the classic grass flavor on the palette, and a very nice long fruit finish.

Consequently our 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is fruity, but dry, and offers a clean bright finish. It is a great food friendly wine. (70 cases produced).

Fruit for our Viognier comes from the Santa Ynez Valley. In 2007 grapes were harvested in September of 2007 at 27.0° Brix and a pH of 3.74. Characteristics of Viognier include apricot, peach and other stone fruit flavors. It is dry and pleasantly spicy in the finish.

Processing this wine was done very, very gently. the wine was destemmed and not crushed, fermented with a special Rhone varietal yeast, and then pressed in a small hand basket press. The total yield was 64%, but well, well worth the effort. This is a great Viognier!

Approximately 60% the wine was aged in Hungarian oak, and the rest in stainless steel. The wine in stainless was stirred on the lees for months to increase its creamy aspects. The wine was bottled in April of 2008 after cold stabilization and filtering. This is another white wine which should not be poured very cold. Temperatures below about 45-50° F. usually inhibit the nose, and negate the floral tones of this wine. (55 cases produced)

Varietal	Price/Bottle	Price/Case
2006 Roussanne	$28.00	$336.00
2006 Sauvignon Blanc	$25.00	$300.00
2007 Roussanne	$30.00	$360.00
2007Sauvignon Blanc	$25.00	$300.00
2007 Viognier	$32.00	$384.00

Please note that a minimum order is 1/2 case of each varietal. We do not sell individual bottles. We offer 15% discounts for a three case purchase on any wine or combination of wines. We ship and would enjoy shipping you a case of wine!