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UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

Best Kept Secret in Sta. Rita Hills ~ Spear Vineyards & Winery

May 17, 2019 by Deborah Mines

Quite by happenstance, the highlight of my recent wine trek to Sta. Rita Hills AVA was discovering Spear Vineyards & Winery off Highway 246 in Lompoc.  While tasting at a neighboring winery, it was suggested that I make an appointment at Spear for “a true vineyard tasting experience.”

Much to my delight, I was welcomed to the newly opened tasting room for a private seated tasting. Unobstructed views of the vibrant Chardonnay vineyard surround the eclectic tasting room, formerly a 1920’s dairy barn and creamery, complete with towering silo.  Needless to say, the views were nothing less than spectacular.

Even more of a surprise, was meeting the young and upcoming Winemaker, Kat Gaffney.  Instantly, Kat’s laid-back, unpretentious manner put me at ease and led to many questions about her burgeoning wine path.

Kat started as a harvest intern in 2011 in San Luis Obispo, later working as a “flying winemaker.” Chasing harvests from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere led her to cellar ventures in New Zealand, Oregon and Santa Barbara County.

Ego aside, Kat’s elegant Old World-style winemaking philosophy is simply to allow the pure expression of the fruit to present itself, with minimal intervention.  The small lot wines are artfully handcrafted using small cluster fermentation.  Grapes are carefully processed via gravity flow rather than traditional mechanical pumps, which can damage and bruise the fruit.  Wines are then aged in neutral French oak barrels to retain the varietal characteristics.

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Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, grenache noir, Grüner Veltliner, Lompoc, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, Sta. Rita Hills, Syrah, Wine Tasting

Thomas George Estates’ Wine Cave Is Truly A Hidden Treasure!

May 24, 2018 by Deborah Mines

One of the more obscure, yet enchanting wineries on Russian River Valley’s Westside Road is Thomas George Estates. Tucked on an inside bend on the narrow winding road, the wooded entrance is easy to pass and most challenging to turn back around to find.  Hence, this was my first visit.  And what a visit it was!  I was literally in awe when I drove down the long gravel driveway, wondering why I hadn’t stopped here before.

Towering Redwoods stand at attention around the perimeter of the serene gardens, ablaze with roses and french lavender. Beyond the gardens you’ll find the infamous Thomas George Estates wine cave, dug deep under the hillside Baker Ridge Pinot Noir vineyard.

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Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, grenache noir, late harvest Viognier, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valle, wine cave, Wine Tasting, Zinfandel

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    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...

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