We are cruising again. We will cover almost the entire navigable Rhine River from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland. Our stops will include Amsterdam, Cologne, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Strasburg and Basel. Some of these are places we visited on our first cruise in 2019 and are very much worth a return trip in 2022. We also have the opportunity for time in Amsterdam, Cologne and Basel as new locations.
There is also a great post-cruise trip to Lake Como in Italy that is available if you want to extend your European vacation.
The link to our cruise website is above. More details about the trip and our cruise flyer will be available shortly.
New Release: 2020 Muscat Canelli ~ Santa Barbara County
Try our newest sweet wine, 2020 Muscat Canelli. This wine replaces our Moscato that sold out in September, but this wine is lighter and less sweet. Rather than a dessert wine like the Moscato, this is more of a pool or patio wine.
Muscat Canelli still combines lots of great fruit with just the right amount of sweetness. It is bottled in clear bottles that show off its beautiful light gold color.
Enjoy.
New Release: 2019 Il Re ~ Santa Barbara County
Try our Newest Release: 2019 Il Re. Another opening on our wine list gives us the opportunity to release our 2019 Il Re. Il Re is an Italian blend that includes two grape varieties from the same Region (Piemonte). They are Nebbiolo and Barbera. Our Il Re is always very popular, which is why we are frequently sold out. It is back on our list after a long absence. This version is already receiving great reviews.
Il Re combines the fruit and creaminess of the Barbera with the fruit, acid and tannins of the Nebbiolo. This is a dark medium bodied wine, with good color and robust fruit flavors.
Americans think of all Italian red wines for pairing with red sauces, but Italians will enjoy wines like Il Re with roasted meat or game. This blend is found occasionally in Italy, but does very well with the really ripe grapes we grow here in Santa Barbara County.
Enjoy.
New Release: 2018 Dolcetto ~ Santa Barbara County
Try our New Release: 2018 Dolcetto. We have sold out of the 2017 Nebbiolo which gives us the opportunity to release our 2018 Dolcetto. Dolcetto is an Italian variety that comes from the same Region (Piemonte) as Nebbiolo and Barbera. Our Dolcettos are always popular, which is why we are frequently sold out. This version is already receiving great reviews.
Dolcetto is a fresh fruity wine that usually has less acid than other Italian red wines. A lot of Dolcettos are lighter wines, but our Dolcettos have good color and robust fruit flavors.
This wine is nice with rich red sauces served on your favorite pasta.
Enjoy.
Fully Open Again for Tasting Inside
We are fully open again for tasting Inside. We have rearranged our tasting room back to its original configuration and there is no limit on the number of people. Reservations are not required. Masks are not required for those who are fully vaccinated for either entry or tasting, but you may wear one if you wish. Our hours are 11 am to 6 pm, every day except Wednesday when we are closed. We hope to see you soon.
New Release: 2019 Barbera ~Santa Barbara County
Try our New Release: 2019 Barbera. We have sold out of the 2017 Dolcetto which gives us the opportunity to release our 2019 Barbera. Barbera is an Italian variety that comes from the same Region (Piemonte) as Nebbiolo and Dolcetto. Our Barberas have always been very popular, which is why we are frequently sold out. This version is already receiving great reviews.
Barbera is a dark, rich wine with a deep ruby color. Although usually high in acid, our Barberas tend to be smooth and sometimes described as “buttery”.
This is a great wine with rich red sauces such as Bolognese and Wild Boar Ragu, served on you favorite pasta.
Enjoy.
Open Again for Tasting Inside
We are open again for tasting Inside. Our Inside tasting is limited to 3 groups or 8 people whichever is greater. So, if we are full, we suggest that you taste first at Alexander and Wayne located in front of us on Grand Avenue, or we will accommodate you outside.. Our hours are 11 am to 6 pm, every day except Wednesday when we are closed. We hope to see you soon.
Wednesdays Closed
Effective Wednesday, October 14, 2020, we will be closed on Wednesdays. We will still be open each other day in the week from 11 am to 6 pm.
New Release: 2018 Petite Sirah ~Santa Barbara County
Try our New Release: 2018 Petite Sirah. Petite Sirah is a variety created from a cross of two southern Rhone varieties about 150 years ago. In Europe it is called Duriff after the man who created it. It is not widely found in Europe, but is grown a fair amount in California, where it is often used in small amounts to add color or backbone to another variety, including even Pinot Noir, of course without attribution.
It is a big and bold wine with some earthy notes like many Syrahs, one of its parents. The color is frequently a dark purple, especially when young, which can be a clue to Petite Sirah in a blind tasting.
There are a fair number of Petite Sirahs on the market, but many of them are responsible for giving this variety a bad name, as they tend to be thin and do not live up to the variety’s potential. On the other hand, well grown and well made Petite Sirahs can be blockbusters of colors, aromas and flavors, like this one. This is not a wine for the faint of heart, nor is it a wine to initiate white wine drinkers into the pleasures of red wine, but for those who appreciate a truly big, bold red wine, this one should do the trick.
Enjoy.