Ahhh, summer, a heady season on the wine trail, where warm weather and long days make exploring Santa Barbara County’s wine country simply irresistible. Along with lovely scenery and exceptional wines, local producers offer a lineup of tastings and special events guaranteed to put a little extra “joy” in “enjoy.”
At ampelos cellars, the proprietors of the family-owned winery recently announced brand new summer hours for their cheerful warehouse winery in Lompoc. Generally open by appointment only, the winery will now offer tastings to the public every Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Among the first wines ampelos staffers will pour is the newly released 2008 Viognier, a vibrant quaff that sports aromas of Meyer lemon, mango, and citrus blossoms, along with lingering flavors that mirror similar attributes. Just in time for summer, this wine makes a cool, crisp companion for shellfish and just about any dish with a spicy kick.
Dragonette Cellars, whose owner-partners craft their wine at the ampelos facility, will also be on hand Saturdays in Lompoc. Under a logo that represents the ancient alchemist’s symbol for “the elixir of life,” the winery produces a program of stylish Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Syrah from limited-production vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley.
On June 13, the second annual Hidden Gems Fund Raiser takes off at the Clover Creek Vineyard in Santa Ynez, where local home winemakers showcase their jewels for a good cause. Hosted by People Helping People, a nonprofit serving those in need in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys, this event supports services for children.
Winning winemakers returning from last year’s sold-out event include David Bradley and Mike Gordon, who tied for first place in the reds category, and Carolyn Balaban, who took second place for reds, as well as the “People’s Choice Award.”
This year, Bradley will pour his 2007 Syrah/Grenache Blend and Gordon his 2007 Syrah, while Balaban will offer her 2005 Syrah and 2007 Albariño. A half-dozen or so other winemakers will also be on hand to share their treasures.
“Many of these winemakers have been making wine from some of the best grapes available for many years,” Gordon said in a statement. “Their experience shows in the excellent quality of their offerings, and some have won numerous awards at county fairs and other venues.”
The gala wine tasting features edible goodies donated by New West Catering, live music, and an auction of exciting items, such as one-week stays at luxury condos in Hawaii and Costa Rica. At the conclusion of the event, participating winemakers will auction their handcrafted wares to further benefit People Helping People.
Also on June 13, forward thinkers can take advantage of rare sipping opportunities at Santa Barbara Wine Futures, held at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in Mission Canyon. Stroll the scenic paths that wind along the creek, and sample the yet-to-be-released wares of 70 Central Coast wineries.
Participating wineries include Alta Maria, ampelos, Palmina, Beckmen, Costa de Oro, Native9, Qupe, and Foxen. To read more about the participants and the wines they’ll be pouring, download a copy of the 2009 Santa Barbara County Wine Futures tasting booklet at thewinehound.com.
Begun 20 years ago by restaurateur Doug Margerum, the futures tasting was originally held at the late, lamented Wine Cask in downtown Santa Barbara. With the closing of that landmark last year, the event faltered, until Bob Wesley, formerly the wine guy at Santa Barbara’s Lazy Acres and now proprietor of the Winehound, took up the slack.
Wesley promises a lively time for all, complete with music and a spread of tasty appetizers from Metropulos. Wines bought at the event will be available for delivery or pick up as soon as the winemakers deem them to be ready, a tantalizing prospect that’s well worth the wait.
The following weekend, Larner Vineyard, in the Santa Ynez Valley, presents the Larner Fete, a celebration of those who craft wine from the vineyard’s fruit. The first to be held at the vineyard, this Grand Designation tasting features local winemakers, such as McPrice Myers, Herman Story, Bonaccorsi, Kenneth-Crawford, and Kaena, who will pour their vineyard designated vintages.
Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy amid the casual country atmosphere, while tapping to the tunes of House Red Band. After lunch, take a guided vineyard tour, jump on a hayride, or settle back to learn a little bit about growing wine grapes.
As days lengthen and thirst grows, consider a ramble along any of Santa Barbara County’s wine trails, where local producers offer bottled gems and liquid joy. m
K. Reka Badger is always up for a hayride. Contact her at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Jun 11-18, 2009.