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Riverbench Sparkling Wine

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In Santa Barbara county, the only place to taste a flight of sparkling wine every day is Riverbench Winery‘s tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara. They make 6 different sparklers…read below in their own words:

“Riverbench Reserve Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine – This investment of time and quality grapes leads to an exceptional bottle of sparkling wine.

2015 Riverbench Cork Jumper Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine – This is the queen of our sparkling wines. Complex, seductive, and mysterious, this is one you’ll want to open to celebrate any special occasion.

2016 Riverbench Cork Jumper Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine – Bright, fruity, and full of life, this gorgeous Pinot Noir based bubbly is worth savoring.

2016 Riverbench Cork Jumper Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine – Don’t be fooled: this wine is anything but super sweet. The touch of residual sugar brings out a whole different flavor profile of lime and brioche.

2016 Riverbench Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine – Santa Barbara County’s only sparkling wine made with Pinot Meunier will always impress.

2017 Riverbench Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine – Our Blanc de Blancs is a classic and traditional take on sparkling wine, boasting pretty flavors of lemon curd and yeasty brioche.”

From their Santa Maria-focused Chardonnay and Pinot Noir program to their certified sustainable farming practices, the quality here is really high. Perfect for Burgundy (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) lovers.

Bien Nacido Vineyards

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Bien Nacido Vineyards in Santa Maria Valley

Bien Nacido Vineyards are some of the most well-known vineyards in the world. 12 different grape varieties grow there and are famous for their ability to make high-quality, award-winning wines. It’s also the most-named vineyard across all branded labels in the world.

If you’ve never seen the vineyard, get a peek in this video tour of Bien Nacido and other Santa Maria Vineyards below. The historic adobe on the property was built by ancestors of Ranchos de Ontiveros viticulturist James Ontiveros, who is a ninth-generation Californian (and the reason behind his Native9 label).

Pinot Obsession – Alma Rosa Winery

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It is internationally agreed that one of the best areas for growing Pinot Noir in the US is the Santa Rita Hills near Santa Ynez Valley. This is an east-west-running valley spreading from Buellton towards the coast, and not too surprisingly, one of the less-crowded spots around for wine tasting.

Historic Alma Rosa Winery Hut in the Santa Rita Hills
Alma Rosa’s historic, tin-roof tasting room

It’s here that Alma Rosa’s owner and winemaker, Richard Sanford – who is credited with being the father of Pinot Noir in this area and has given his name (and brand) to Sanford Winery down the road – is busy crafting his beloved wines like they were his own children. First, in a tin-roofed ramshackle hut on Santa Rosa Road, and now, in a beautiful modern, natural tasting room on Industrial Way in Buellton.

His organic and sustainable approach to grape growing pays off in the many Pinot Noirs offered on the Alma Rosa tasting list at any one time. Also on the list are a Vin Gris (rosé of Pinot Noir) Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and several (Pinot) Chardonnays. This guy loves his pinot.

And we do, too. The last time I tasted, there were several tastings: an overall tasting (all the white varietals plus several pinots), an entire Pinot Noir tasting, and if you’re luck, their Sparkling Wine. This list offers various pinot clones from various vineyards with prices ranging from $20 to $49 per bottle, about 5 at any one time. You’re pretty much guaranteed to find one you like. And one your mom will like, your dog-sitter, even your ex the wine snob.

Whether you’re just staring to become pinot-obsessed or have full-fledged pinot envy, Alma Rosa is the best place in California to satisfy the craving.

Autumn in a Glass: Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc from Lafond Winery

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Lafond Winery in Buellton, CA
Lafond Winery in Buellton, CA

Ace, my super-business-consultant boyfriend, was reclining on the couch with a strange but calm look on his face. It was gray and dismal outside the small window in our apartment, but he had a small ray of sun shining in his eyes. In his hand was a dark amber-colored liquid in a tiny wine glass, and he was swirling and sniffing it.

“It tastes just like autumn in a glass,” he sighed.

Before long it was down the hatch and the glass was refilled. I tried the rich-colored late-harvest sauvignon blanc. Visions of tall trees with multi-colored leaves, damp earth and crisp air filled my head as the sweet fruit hit my tongue.

“Mmm, autumn,” I agreed. We had gotten the small bottle when visiting Lafond Winery (in the Santa Rita Hills near Santa Ynez Valley) over New Year’s Eve weekend, and had forgotten about it until now.

The next time we visited the area, the bottle was long gone, and Ace insisted we get back to Lafond to pick up another bottle on our way out of town. We turned off the 101 and drove the quiet road through vineyards and fields to get there. We tasted all the wines (still loved them all) and were distressed to see the late-harvest sauvignon blanc was no longer on the tasting list.

“We’d like a bottle of the late-harvest sauvignon blanc please,” we blurted quickly at the nearest pourer.

“Oh, we sold out of that, and we’re not making it anymore. We don’t even plant sauvignon grapes anymore.”

Ace’s eyes grew wide. “They’re not even making it anymore,” he breathed. This made the wine even more valuable in his eyes. He asked if they could find any bottles in the back, or perhaps in someone’s shipment that hadn’t yet gone out.

The answer was no. We mournfully looked around the tasting room, trying to decide if we wanted to buy anything else. We loved their wines, but nothing was as special as that dessert wine.

Suddenly we saw it! A double-magnum of late harvest sauvignon blanc: eight times the amount we had bought the first time (and eight times the price). He seized the huge bottle and I scurried to fill out the membership paperwork, giving us a sizeable new member discount.

Ace was smiling as we got in the car…we were taking Autumn home with us.