UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

Wine Bloggers Unite in Santa Barbara County July 10-13, 2014

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IMG_6726The excitement is mounting for the 2014 Wine Bloggers Conference, which will take place in Buellton in the heart of the Santa Barbara County Wine Country this weekend.  Thank you to the WBC Scholarship Committee and to the WBC Sponsors for selecting me to participate as  a scholarship recipient.

IMG_7007 The Santa Barbara AVA is very dear to my heart as the region throws a diverse selection of varietals ~ from Rhone Blends, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and more.  And, best of all, it is within easy driving distance! [Read more…]

Justin Vineyards & Winery Is Justifiably A World Class Act

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When it comes to world-class wines, Justin Vineyards and Winery is considered by many to be a forerunner.  Situated at the very end of the wine trail on the westside of Paso Robles, a Disneyland wine world awaits.  Just when you think you’ve driven too far, keep going.  The road will eventually end at Justin Vineyard and Winery.

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Planted in 1981 by founder and wine ambassador Justin Baldwin, most of the vines on the 160 acre estate are single varietal or Bordeaux varietals.  Today more than 13 select growers in the Paso Robles appellation supply grapes for Justin Vineyards and Winery.

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Opulence is quite evident at Justin Vineyards and Winery.  The tasting room at the first entrance to the property is open to the public and has been recently remodeled and expanded.  The Restaurant at Justin and the quaint Justin Inn cater to the discriminating wine lovers who wish to dine and stay in five-star comfort amongst the vines.

IMG_6826Wine club members are invited to venture down the road further to the members only tasting room, complete with a wine cave, a posh, yet inviting setting and a fabulous reserve tasting menu.  Stellar service is a guarantee and private tours of the wine caves and barrel room can be arranged. [Read more…]

Santa Maria’s Cambria Estate Vineyards & Winery Is Empowering

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Approaching Cambria Estate Vineyards & Winery from Santa Maria, it’s easy to miss the turnoff unless you’re watching for their sign.   The views are panoramic and open as large tracts of vineyards span the river beds for miles along the east-west valley in Santa Maria Valley AVA.

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In 1981, the Santa Maria American Viticulture Area was designated as the third AVA in the United States and the first in Santa Barbara County.  This unique microclimate leads to early bud break and a long ripening season for the grapes.

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Cambria Estate Vineyards and Winery has been touted for over 25 years as a world-class producer of fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.  The winery is also SIP Certified, (Sustainability in Practice), a bio-dynamic farming practice that embraces water conservation and the highest utilization of the land.

What makes Cambria Estate Vineyards and Winery even more unique is that it is woman-owned with a woman winemaker at the helm.  Vino-preneur Barbara Banke and her two daughters run the day-to-day operations and Denise Shurtleff is the artisan winemaker. [Read more…]

Melville Vineyards & Winery ~ Santa Rita Hills AVA

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Head west out Highway 246 toward Lompoc and discover the Santa Rita Hills appellation, one of the newest and fastest-growing AVAs in Santa Barbara County.  Home to over 59 vineyards with more than 2,000 acres planted in Pinot Noir, 500 acres of Chardonnay, and over 140 acres planted in Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and other cool climate varietals.

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One of Santa Rita Hills’ crowning jewels is Melville Vineyards and Winery, a beautifully appointed Mediterranean-style winery that exclusively produces 100% estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.  The unique microclimate of the Santa Rita Hills AVA is characterized by the cool temperatures, coastal winds and early morning fog, and is perfectly suited to growing these Burgundian grape varietals. [Read more…]

Russian River Valley’s Hip Hop Kiln Winery Is A Real Treasure

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IMG_6153Arriving at Hop Kiln Winery in Russian River, I was awestruck.  Upon closer look, a brass California Registered Historical Landmark plaque (No. 893) read, “This structure served the important hop industry of California’s north coast region, once the major hop-growing area in the west. Built in 1905 by a crew of Italian stonemasons, it represents the finest existing example of its type, consisting of three stone kilns for drying hops, a wooden cooler, and a two-story press for bailing hops for shipment”.

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Prior to the Walters Ranch Hop Kiln, the 250-acre property was known as Sweet Water Springs, which originally served as a stagecoach stop.  Visiting the Hop Kiln homestead is like stepping back in time to the early 1900s.  There’s a stately, but weathered, plantation house complete with a covered veranda and a few abandoned outbuildings all which overlook a scenic pond and the vineyards in the distance. [Read more…]