Santa Barbara Winemakers.
January Edition.

Featured video.
This month we feature Chris Whitcraft, maker of some of the finest wines from Santa Barbara. This video is a real treat, watch the master at work making his first syrah in over 20 years. Additional appearances in this interview feature Drake Whitcraft, Chris's son and Warner Owens, owner of 3/4 of an acre of syrah in Montecito. The Whitcraft, 2004, pinot noir, Santa Rita Hills, Melville Vineyard was voted the top wine of the year last year on SBWinemakers. If you have never tasted his lagrein from French Camp or any of his other wines, get yourselves over to 36 A S. Calle Cesar Chavez in Santa Barbara.
The background music during the filming was a radio playing in Drakes' truck, this year we are going to be looking at how music is being employed in cellars and the philosophy of how music may benefit the aging process.


As usual, click on the label. QuickTime is the format for watching the videos, make sure it is loaded on your computer, you don't know what you are missing. Windows user get Quicktime for free here

For all our other video interviews head on over to the Screening Room.


January 17
The new logo for the 2007 Hospice du Rhone. Get your tickets now before they sell out. All of the worlds' best juice in one place.



January 10

Rumour has it that there are some interesting personnel changes ahappening. Karen Steinwachs, assistant to the great Kathy Joseph from Fiddlehead is moving over to take on the winemaking at Buttonwood Winery. Mike Brown wants to stay focussed on his Kalyra label after the popularity of the above mentioned movie and the quality of his wines combined. Karen has some great experience, working with Norm Yost at Foley and Lincourt, then Flying Goat before joining Kathy as one of the Fiddlechix. But those are some pretty big shoes to step into so good luck to Karen. Maybe we will see some pinot at Buttonwood in the coming years.

January 9
This item popped up today from WineBusiness.com. Yep another dark trip into Miles' psyche, I wonder if they will be serving from dump buckets. One of the good things about this venture is they will be pouring Qupe and ABC, since we lost that great tasting room in Santa Ynez last year.
I still harbour the hope of using Solvang as the backdrop to the US version of The Prisoner that starred Patrick McGoohan. Of course I'm still a long way off being a video documenter of SB's winemakers, though we can try.

Tastes of the Valleys, a SIDEWAYS wine bar.
By Bob Ecker From Daily News Links,
01/09/2007 Solvang, CA -
It had to happen. The Academy Award winning wine related film, SIDEWAYS, has spun off an actual wine bar opening late January in Santa Barbara County. Called Tastes of the Valleys, a SIDEWAYS wine bar, this new Solvang based spot will begin by featuring wines from 15 Central Coast producers, pouring over 55 wines.

January 1
Happy New Year.
This year will be as informational and educational as always. In the coming months we will have video interviews of Kris Curran of Curran Wines and Seasmoke; Bill Wathen from Foxen; John Belfy from Buona Terra Farming and Ross Rankin from Imagine Wines to name a few.
We are also going to take a look at some of the new wineries under construction.
For subscribers, The Wineries and Vineyards list has many new additions with almost 150 labels to look for from the Santa Barbara appellation.

January 1
There will be plenty of new tasting notes throughout 2007, but a quick note on those consumed over the holidays included Chris's 2004, pinot noir, Santa Rita Hills, Melville Vineyard for Christmas Day with roast duck. Carina Cellars 2003 SBC syrah at our annual Swedish Christmas Eve get together where duck and goose were served. The office party featured Carhartt's Estate merlot 2003, their 2005 pinot noir from Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard and Bridlewood's 2003 Estate syrah.
New Years Eve was let in with Foxen's 2003 Tinaquaic cabernet franc with a homemade venison and mushroom pot pie.
New Years Day a leg of lamb washed down with a 2001 Qupe, Santa Maria Valley, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate syrah and Jaffurs petite sirah, Thompson Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, 2004 and Longoria's 2003 Alisos Vineyard SBC syrah.





Cheers


Santa Barbara Wine

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