Wines of California's Central Coast
 |  |
Our destination for this Saturday’s Tasting is the beautiful Central Coast of California. This is a huge viticultural area, covering the long stretch of coastline from San Francisco Bay south the Santa Barbara, and reaching inland from the Pacific Ocean to the borders of the Central Valley. The climate and topography vary enormously across this immense region, making it impossible to generalize about winegrowing conditions, but we can say that Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rhone varieties like Syrah and Grenache are among the most important grapes planted throughout the region. To sift through the multitude of options for what to taste, we are going to feature wines from two of the wineries who really helped put the Central Coast on winelover’s radar throughout the world. The charming gentlemen in the photos above are the forces behind these two fantastic wineries.
The first is Au Bon Climat, a wonderful winery that focuses on Burgundian varietals. Started by Jim Clendenen in 1982, Au Bon Climat (“a well exposed vineyard”) produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, amongst others, that come from many of the regions most renowned vineyard sites. From ABC we will taste one of their iconic Piont Noirs, as well as a white blend that consistently one of the most elegant white wines produced domestically. That blend is called Hildegard, named for the wife of King Charlemagne and a salute to the history of Burgundy, and the blend aims to recreate the wines produced in Burgundy’s fabled Charlemange vineyard in Medieval times. It is a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Aligoté.
The second winery we will sample from is Fess Parker Winery. Named for owner and famous actor Fess Parker, who played both Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the 1950s and 1960s, Fess Parker Winery was established in 1989. While they have produced award winning Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, they also make some of our favorite examples of Central Coast wines that emulate France’s Rhône Valley. It is hard to discuss Rhône style wines without talking about Syrah, so we made sure to include their Santa Barbara County Syrah in the tasting. We’ll also taste a wine from their secondary Epiphany Cellars label in the delicious Grenache Blanc they make. Grenache Blanc is one of our absolute favorite white Rhône grapes, and one we would love to see more and more American wine lovers get to know.
Epiphany Grenache Blanc
Rodney’s Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, 2018
Au Bon Climat ‘Hildegard’
Santa Maria Valley, 2019
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir
Santa Barbara County, 2020
Fess Parker Syrah
Santa Barbara County, 2018
During the Weekly Tasting:
~ We will allow a maximum of 25 people inside the store, including staff. If we reach that maximum, other guests will need to wait outside until another group exits.
~ We encourage you to wear face masks when entering, checking out, and exiting.
The first is Au Bon Climat, a wonderful winery that focuses on Burgundian varietals. Started by Jim Clendenen in 1982, Au Bon Climat (“a well exposed vineyard”) produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, amongst others, that come from many of the regions most renowned vineyard sites. From ABC we will taste one of their iconic Piont Noirs, as well as a white blend that consistently one of the most elegant white wines produced domestically. That blend is called Hildegard, named for the wife of King Charlemagne and a salute to the history of Burgundy, and the blend aims to recreate the wines produced in Burgundy’s fabled Charlemange vineyard in Medieval times. It is a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Aligoté.
The second winery we will sample from is Fess Parker Winery. Named for owner and famous actor Fess Parker, who played both Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the 1950s and 1960s, Fess Parker Winery was established in 1989. While they have produced award winning Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, they also make some of our favorite examples of Central Coast wines that emulate France’s Rhône Valley. It is hard to discuss Rhône style wines without talking about Syrah, so we made sure to include their Santa Barbara County Syrah in the tasting. We’ll also taste a wine from their secondary Epiphany Cellars label in the delicious Grenache Blanc they make. Grenache Blanc is one of our absolute favorite white Rhône grapes, and one we would love to see more and more American wine lovers get to know.
Epiphany Grenache Blanc
Rodney’s Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, 2018
Au Bon Climat ‘Hildegard’
Santa Maria Valley, 2019
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir
Santa Barbara County, 2020
Fess Parker Syrah
Santa Barbara County, 2018
During the Weekly Tasting:
~ We will allow a maximum of 25 people inside the store, including staff. If we reach that maximum, other guests will need to wait outside until another group exits.
~ We encourage you to wear face masks when entering, checking out, and exiting.