• Blog
  • About Me
    • Press Release
  • Back Road Wineries
    • California Wine Trail
    • Tuscany Wine Trail
    • Baja California Wine Trail
  • Wine A Bit ~ Editorial & Reviews
  • Contact Me

UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

Syrah is King at Rusack Vineyards

May 14, 2016 by Deborah Mines Leave a Comment

IMG_0528

Ballard Canyon AVA is no longer a well-kept secret.  As a matter of fact, my recent travels took me along the winding backcountry roads to Rusack Vineyards.  The oak-studded rolling hills and dramatic backdrop was ideal for my quest for the perfect Ballard Canyon Syrah and a dose of much-needed serenity.

IMG_0516

Unpretentious and inviting, Rusack Vineyards‘ tasting room was a welcome sight, as it is one of the few tasting rooms in the pristine Ballard Canyon.

geoff-alison-rusackIn the mid-1990’s, Geof and Alison Rusack  purchased the legendary 48 acre property, previously known as Ballard Canyon Winery.

Seventeen acres were planted primarily  with Syrah.  Alongside the Syrah are smaller blocks of Bordeaux varietals ~ Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Petit Sirah, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel are planted on the couples’  Santa Catalina Island vineyard, El Rancho Escondido.

IMG_0498

Ballard Canyon was officially recognized as an AVA in October 2013 and is part of the greater Santa Ynez Valley AVA, which encompasses a 30 mile east-west corridor area.

map1

“As the only AVA dedicated to Syrah, Ballard Canyon has emerged as the “home” of Syrah in America.  Based on the quality being produced, Ballard Canyon’s reputation is continuing to grow within the world of boutique wine.”

                                      www.ballardcanyonava.com

 

IMG_0529

Of particular note is the 2013 Syrah, Ballard Canyon Estate Reserve, redolent of cassis and blackberry with a hint of licorice, concentrated dried cherries and a touch of rich cocoa .  The luscious 2013 Soul of the Vine Dessert Wine, Estate Grown is handcrafted from botrytisized (Noble Rot) Semillon.  This unctuous honey-hued wine is modeled after a sweet Bordeaux-style dessert wine, brimming with honeysuckle, pear, orange and caramel.   Truly fiit for a king!  www.rusack.com

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Bordeaux varietals, Chardonnay, Merlot, Noble Rot, Petit Sirah, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, Syrah, Zinfandel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Wine Trail Search

Follow My Wine Blog

Your Name

Your Email

A Little About Me

To many, I’m simply known as a wanderlust ~ a free-spirited adventuress with a passion for travel and a lover of great wines!Read more...

Vintage Posts

  • Russian River Valley’s Arista Wines Earn Top Accolades From Wine Spectator September 24, 2019
  • Littorai Wines ~ A Tale of Two Coasts & Three Pinot Noir Styles September 13, 2019
  • After Much Ado, “House of Flowers” Debuts In Russian River Valley August 29, 2019
  • Best Backroads For Cycling In RRV-Healdsburg Wine Country August 16, 2019
  • Experience Cave-Aged Wines At DRNK Winery in Russian River Valley July 3, 2019
  • Best Kept Secret in Sta. Rita Hills ~ Spear Vineyards & Winery May 17, 2019
  • Spring Is An Ideal, And Uncrowded, Time To Visit Wine Country April 19, 2019
  • NEW BOOK RELEASE: Root Cause, A Novel by Steven Laine February 19, 2019
  • Discover the Hidden Wine Caves in Sonoma Wine Country December 17, 2018
  • Vin Santo Reigns In Chianti’s Medieval Hamlet of Castello di Volpaia November 16, 2018
  • Hidden Gem Alert ~ Dry Creek’s Unti Vineyards Is A “10” October 31, 2018
  • Windsor’s Notre Vue Estate’s Unabashed Views Are Worth The Drive October 20, 2018
  • Cheers To Russian River Valley’s “Uneventful” 2018 Harvest! September 21, 2018
  • Add Healdsburg’s Raford Inn To Your Wine Bucket List August 9, 2018
  • A Walk Between The Vines At Emeritus Vineyards… June 29, 2018
  • Follow the Olivet Road… Top 3 Artisan Winery Picks! June 8, 2018
  • Thomas George Estates’ Wine Cave Is Truly A Hidden Treasure! May 24, 2018
  • Get Your Sips Off Route 116… Sonoma Co’s Crown Jewel Wine Road March 9, 2018
  • A Rainy Day In Napa Suits Me Wine… December 20, 2017
  • Whimsical & Historical Sites Dot North Sonoma County’s Wine Trail November 21, 2017

Find Me On Twitter

My Tweets

Copyright © 2019 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.