Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe Features Pete Stolpman of Stolpman Vineyards
The Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe is the hub for Santa Barbara Wine Country. In our exclusive interview with Pete Stolpman of Stolpman Vineyards, Pete shares what makes Stolpman wines so unique. Each month we bring you the stories of our talented local winemakers, SUBSCRIBE and get to know more California Central Coast winemakers!
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The Brander Vineyard - Los Olivos, California
Maren Swanson from Lovehappyhour.com visits The Brander Vineyard and tasting room in Santa Ynez, California.. Learn about Brander wines and their beautiful estate.
Fred Brander planted their first grapes in 1975 with mostly Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux varietals. Since winning a major award for their Sauvingnon Blanc in 1977, Brander has continued to produce fantastic wines and added some new varietals. Visit their tasting room daily, which opens at 11 a.m.
Saarloos and Sons - Los Olivos, California
Saarloos and Sons Winery is a very different from other family wineries in that it is not only built on the family heritage (so it looks to the past), it is also looking forward for the future of the Saarloos family keeping them in mind as well. So, it isn't all about NOW and making the big buck$ but rather preserving the family heritage, farm and wines for the next generation. In doing so they seek to honor their grandparents and look out for their children, grandchildren ...throughout their generations. (Genesis 17:7)
To see my review of Saarloos and Sons Winery and pictures check out California Wine Tasting Adventures:
Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe Features Matt Brady of SAMsARA Winery
The Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe is the hub for Santa Barbara Wine Country. In our exclusive interview with Matt Brady of SAMsARA Winery, Matt shares their story and gives us a preview of what's in store for the vineyard's future. Each month we bring you the stories of our talented local winemakers, SUBSCRIBE and get to know more California Central Coast winemakers!
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Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe Features Rick Longoria of Longoria Wines
The Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe is the hub for Santa Barbara Wine Country. In our exclusive interview with Rick Longoria of Longoria Wines, Rick takes us on his personal journey from Sonoma County Cabernets to Spanish wines in Santa Ynez. Each month we bring you the stories of our talented local winemakers, SUBSCRIBE and get to know more California Central Coast winemakers!
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Travel with Me ✈ Wine Tasting in Los Olivos & Eats in Santa Barbara, CA ✈ spelled with an E
Went wine tasting with my momma in Los Olivos, about one hour north from Santa Barbara. Took about a 3-4 hour drive from LA. Worth it. View. Amazeballs. 7 different wines. Tip$y.
Met up with my sister in Santa Barbara, spent the night and grubbed on some Mexican food mmMmMmmm
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Trip to Santa Barbara and the Wineries of Solvang and San Ynez in California
Andrew Murray 2014 Syrah, Tous Les Jours, Santa Ynez Valley
This 2014 was a Wine Enthusiast Magazine Editors' Choice. They scored it 92 points saying Showing incredible depth for such an affordable wine, Andrew Murray does it again...
2012 Westerly Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Ynez Valley Red Wine
Westerly Wines
2012 Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon
The Wine Down - A Taste of Santa Barbara Wine Country with Brandon Sparks-Gillis of Dragonette Cellars
Having learned about wine while working as a clerk at Wally's Wine and Spirits, Brandon Sparks-Gillis took his taster's apprenticeship to co-found Dragonette Cellars with John and Steve Dragonette. Years of cultivation and experience helped them create a truly outstanding label that Brandon shares with the Wine Down.
We discuss growing in the central coast, working with luminary winemakers, and taste several excellent bottles from Dragonette.
GUEST BIO:
John and Steve Dragonette and close friend Brandon Sparks-Gillis formed Dragonette Cellars in order to pursue a long-held dream to produce wines of the utmost quality and purity from the finest vineyards in Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast. Every bottle that leaves our winery is 100% produced by family members.
We have poured our experience into producing cool-climate expressions of Pinot Noir and Syrah from vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, and York Mountain, and Sauvignon Blanc from the uniquely suitable area of Happy Canyon.
ADD'L LINKS:
thelip.tv
EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
00:01 Welcome to the Wine Down.
00:42 Introducing Brandon Sparks-Gillis.
01:45 The symbol and seal of Dragonette.
03:42 Tasting the 2011 Rosé.
04:27 Negotiating label politics.
05:29 Getting a wine education at Wally's.
08:16 A lesson in growing grapes in Colorado.
09:34 The key to creating great wine: Fanatical Devotion.
12:50 Creating synergy with your partners.
16:52 Working with Manford Krankl.
18:49 Tasting the 2010 Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc.
20:52 Showing off a piece of Serpentinite--California's state rock!
22:51 Sourcing grapes from 18 vineyards and building the perfect wishlist.
26:22 The learning curve for the winery over the years, and learning to deal with heat waves.
29:36 Developing confidence as a winemaker; maintaining purity of perspective.
33:48 What to do with raisined grapes? Mitigating risk.
36:53 Tasting the 2010 Pinot Noir, and notes on the fabulous grapes.
40:44 Delegating responsibilities in a small family business.
42:15 Making the move to the boonies to make wine.
44:09 Tasting the 7, and cool growth grape notes.
46:01 Finding the wines (wine club!).
47:07 Future goals for Dragonette.
48:22 Cheers and Goodbye!
Following Carla on Ballard Canyon Southbound
Ballard Canyon is one of the most beautiful roads in Santa Ynez Valley, Ventura County, California. Connecting Solvang to Los Olivos, it is home to the Rusack Vineyards, manicurely kept estates and to a bison farm where one can see very large animals grazing quite close to the road. Ballard Canyon has a considerable traffic of bicycles and runners, so exercise additional caution when driving or riding there.
A great ride with Carla, Bob (with Claire as pillion) and Kim (with Noel as pillion). Shot on February 12th, 2017.
Opening and closing song: Extreme Action, by Benjamin Tissot (