Santa Ynez Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Santa Ynez Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1983. Sitting on 42,880 acres, the Santa Ynez Valley is the largest growing region in Santa Barbara County. The soils range from gravelly loams and clay loams to shale and silty clay loams. All soils in the valley have excellent drainage. The topography of the growing regions varies from 200 to 1,500 feet above sea level, with the differing climates following the changing elevations. The western end of the Valley is cooled by morning fog and breezes off of the Pacific Ocean. The eastern end of the valley is considerably warmer and higher in elevation. Cool climate varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the dominant vines on the western side of the valley while Rhone varietals, namely Syrah, thrive in Santa Ynez Valley's eastern end.

Mount Harlan - Wine Region of the Day

Mt. Harlan received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Located in the Gabilan Mountain Range, Mt. Harlan is 7,440 acres large but there are only 100 acres under vine. The soil is made up of limestone, and the terrain of the growing terraces sits at an elevation of 1,880 feet above sea level. The elevation of the growing regions allow for plenty of daytime sun, but the vines are exposed to constant cold wind from the Pacific Ocean. The region is best known for its production of Chardonnay and Viognier, but lately it has started producing Pinot Noir as well.

2010 Genetic Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

2010 Genetic Pinot Noir

$100 for 2 bottles

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The 2011 Genetic Pinot Noir is a special Oregon Pinot Noir from Sabina Vineyards. This wine has a nose that is reminiscent of freshly crushed cranberries, cherries and fresh herbs. Brilliant acidity cleanses the palate following the richest of gravies while marrying the flavors picked up on the nose to create the ultimate experience producing a spectacular pinot noir for Sabina Vineyards.

The grapes for this wine come from the Roserock Vineyard which is perched on a ridge top towards the southern end of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, which is located within the Willamette Valley, home to many of Oregon’s finest Pinot Noir vineyards. In 2011, a warm and dry harvest period gave way to cooler than expected conditions in late September and early October. Fortunately, the fruit was at or near its ripening plateau. A final heat spike at harvest dehydrated many clusters, reducing yields and concentrating flavors.

The Genetic wines are an homage to the LGBTQ community and perfect for celebrating Pride Month!  We are offering these wines in pairs for $100.

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard"

$43

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Ryan Cochrane has really fallen in love with this vineyard. There’s this unmistakeable characteristic about wines made from this site that is uniquely Solomon Hills. In 2013, he added an extra clone to the mix which really gave this wine an extra level of complexity and balance. And it also made it a little addictive too. As always, the nose explodes right out of the glass, unleashing aromas of rich red berries, black licorice, sandalwood, fresh flowers, black tea with lemon and mushroomy earth. On the palette, I’m getting garden strawberries, bing cherries, spice cake, orange marmalade, tea and underlying wet forest floor. The wine has a beautiful light garnet color, which alludes to its medium-light bodied character and perfect balance. The wine starts off with a bright and showy mouthfeel, but morphs into something much more complex as an effervescent acidity takes over with a nice snap at the end. This wine lingers on the tongue 4 evah!

Santa Maria Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Santa Maria Valley of the Central Coast is a natural funnel-shaped valley opening west to the Pacific Ocean. The elevation of the area ranges from approximately 200 feet at the intersection of Highway 101 and Santa Maria River to approximately 3,200 feet at Tepusquet Peak. The grapes that are grown within the area are on the valley floor at an approximate elevation of 300 feet on the slopes and rolling hillsides up to an elevation of 800 feet. The soils within the area range in texture from sandy loam to clay loam and are free from adverse salts.

Since the valley opens to the ocean, there is no opposition to the sea fog that moves in overnight, engulfing lower-lying vineyards, and often lingering into mid-day. This creates a cool growing environment that features a long growing season and very little rainfall, meaning grapes have extensive time to build flavor on the vine. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc make up the majority of the Santa Maria Valley crops.

Arroyo Grande Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Located in the southeastern portion of San Luis Obispo county, the Arroyo Grande Valley is a study in opposites.  The land is largely made of marine sediments that are part of the Franciscan formation but is crisscrossed with volcanic intrusions and faults.  The weather is largely warm and dry but marked with a fog line that separates cooler and wetter microclimates from those that are warmer and drier.  Naturally this carries over into their wine making, with part of the valley producing Bordeaux and Mediterranean varietals being produced at the far end of the valley and Pinot Noir, Chardonnays and Riesling. 

Yorkville Highlands - Wine Region of the Day

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The Yorkville Highlands received its designation as an AVA in 1998. Located in southern Mendocino County, California the Yorkville Highlands separate Sonoma County's Alexander Valley AVA from Mendocino County's Anderson Valley AVA. The soil in the Yorkville Highlands is rocky with high gravel content, which provides excellent drainage. During the day, the climate is cooler than Alexander Valley but warmer than Anderson Valley while at night the highlands are cooler than the surrounding areas. The Yorkville Highlands produce world-class Pinot Noir.

High Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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High Valley AVA is located in the most eastern part of Lake County, California and contains an extinct volcano. The valley sits between elevations of 1,600 feet to 3,000 feet. The High Valley AVA has a wide variance of growing regions between the valley basin and elevated hillsides. The valley in inundated by cold winds which keeping the valley cool. Like much of Lake County, the High Valley is known for its alluvial fans in the valley and hilltop benches, which provide a the area with a variety of growing regions. The warmer volcanic soils of the hillsides are known for their Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon while the cool sandy valley floor provide well-drained beds for varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Walala Vineyard - Wine of the Day

2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Walala Vineyard

$70

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The 2013 Walala Pinot Noir is our 1st release from our own estate vineyard. The exceptional site, Walala is comprised of 17 acres of vineyard surrounded by 1900 acres of forestland. A unique site for Pinot Noir in the “True Sonoma Coast”. This wine has a great violate color with amazing depth and clarity. The nose shows notes of cassis, blackberry, and cloves associated with hints of pomelo and honeydew. Bright forest fruit flavors hits the palate. The finish is of lively fruit with lengthy spice and concentration.

Cienega Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Cienega Valley in San Benito County, California received its designation as an AVA in 1982. Located at an elevation of 1,100 feet above sea level, the soil of the region is divided by the San Andreas fault. Soil to the east of the fault consists of granite and sandstone, but to the west, the soil consists of granite and limestone. The Cienega Valley has warm, sunny days and cool nights, allowing the grapes to develop bright flavors and even tannins while retaining acidity levels. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Grenache, Merlot, Negrette, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

Sta. Rita Hills - Wine Region of the Day

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Sta. Rita Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2001, under the name Santa Rita Hills. In 2005, after a name dispute with the Chilean producer Vina Santa Rita, the region changed its name to Sta. Rita Hills. The region is situated on 30,720 acres in Santa Barbara County. Soil types within the Sta. Rita Hills are notoriously varied between mixed loams, Diatomaceous Earth, and shale. The valley's proximity to the Pacific Ocean along with its east to west running hills allow fog and wind off the Pacific to settle over the grapes and creates a cool growing climate. The cool climate has made the Sta. Rita Hills an excellent area for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Santa Ynez Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Santa Ynez Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1983. Sitting on 42,880 acres, the Santa Ynez Valley is the largest growing region in Santa Barbara County. The soils range from gravelly loams and clay loams to shale and silty clay loams. All soils in the valley have excellent drainage. The topography of the growing regions varies from 200 to 1,500 feet above sea level, with the differing climates following the changing elevations. The western end of the Valley is cooled by morning fog and breezes off of the Pacific Ocean. The eastern end of the valley is considerably warmer and higher in elevation. Cool climate varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the dominant vines on the western side of the valley while Rhone varietals, namely Syrah, thrive in Santa Ynez Valley's eastern end.

2012 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

 2012 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard"

$43

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Solomon Hills Vineyard is located about seven miles from the ocean just outside the city of Orcutt in Santa Barbara County. The maritime influence combined with ocean floor sandy loam soil results in wines with bright fruit, good balance, crisp acidity and what is known as "Santa Maria spice". The lively nose jumps out of the glass, revealing a tightly-knit profile of fresh cherries, strawberries, hazelnuts, spice cake, violet and rose petal. The smooth, silky, light-bodied mouthfeel delivers notes of firm red strawberry, raspberry and cherry mixed with dashes of currant, caramelized orange peel, saddle leather, vanilla and gingerbread cookies. Delicate tannins transition to a sparkle of acidity on the finish. Beware...this wine goes down a little too easy.

2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

 2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

$30

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Bright ruby violet, the wine leads with juicy fruit on the nose: cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate.  Notes of dark, unsweetened chocolate, bay leaf and sweet baking spices round out the profile.  In the mouth, the light body is carried by ripe, big red fruit notes that follow the aromas.  There is an impression of sweetness from the cola and vanilla notes but the wine is totally dry.  A long, juicy finish of strawberry, coffee and cherry rounds out the wine and brings the fruit into balance.

Santa Lucia Highlands - Wine Region of the Day

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The Santa Lucia Highlands received their designation as an AVA in 1990. Sitting on 22,000 acres in the Santa Lucia Mountains, the region is a sub-appellation of the Monterey AVA. The soil is a gravelly sandy loam, and the terrain consists of terraces around 2,000 feet in elevation. The high elevation grants the vines access to the daylong sun that is cooled down by breezes off the Pacific Ocean. The region is best known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.

2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard - Wine of the Day

 2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard

$60

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The 2013 growing season was early, even and all-around excellent. A warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor and berry size, and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set under sunny skies. With the exception of one heat spike in late June and early July, temperatures were consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity, resulting in notably healthy vines as fruit went through veraison and began to ripen. This vintage gave us the extraordinary gift to pick what we wanted, when we wanted.

The 2013 Sun Chase Pinot Noir is our inaugural release of Pinot Noir. An incredibly vibrant wine, the aromas are complex and rich. Plums, black cherries, blackberries and flowers all jump from the glass, finishing with notes of cloves and sweet tobacco. This Pinot Noir has great structure and a strong backbone, with balanced mouthwatering acidity, soft tannins, and a long finish. This is definitely a wine to hold on to for a few years.

Yountville - Wine Region of the Day

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Yountville received its distinction as an AVA in 1999 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. The AVA is sitting on 8,000 acres, centered on the town Yountville, California. Volcanic soils on the eastern flank are similar to the neighboring Stags Leap District but also features centuries-old coastal deposits, and both sedimentary and alluvial soils exist to the west, interspersed with sandy and gravelly loam, as well as a little clay. No other area in all the Napa Valley has this particular geomorphic combination and pronounced soil differences. The climate of the region consists of cool marine air currents from San Pablo Bay to the south, allowing for cooler temperatures year round. These milder temperatures allow the grapes of the region plenty of time to develop unique flavor characteristics. The region currently produces Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

San Bernabe - Wine Region of the Day

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San Bernabe received its designation as an AVA in 2004. Sitting on 24,796 acres, the region is a sub-appellation of the Monterey AVA. The most centrally located of all of the AVAs located in Monterey, San Bernabe is located between the Salinas River and the Santa Lucia Mountains. The soil of the region is a sandy loam and has excellent drainage. There are varying climates within the region, but it mostly has long sunny days and cool nights that allow for a well balanced but robust grape. The region grows over fifteen different varietals but is mostly known for producing Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

Diablo Grande - Wine Region of the Day

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Diablo Grande received its designation as an AVA in 1998. Situated across 30,000 acres, Diablo Grande is located in Stanislaus County. The soils of Diablo Grande are mostly clay and sand and are very well draining. The climate is hot and dry but receives high winds that blow across Stanislaus County. The hot temperatures make for a short growing season and high yields of fruit. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, and Syrah.

Fort Ross - Seaview - Wine Region of the Day

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The Fort Ross - Seaview AVA is located on 27,500 acres in Sonoma, California. The region received its designation as an AVA in 2012, and as such is one of the newest AVAs in the state. The soils in the region are typically loamy, but range from rock and gravel to dense clay. The AVA permit limits vine growing to at least 920 feet above sea level. Given the elevation of the region and its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, there is an excellent blend of sunshine and cool ocean breezes which make this area ideal for growing cooler climate grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay