Santa Ynez Valley Guest Currrent Issue Articles

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Valley Wine Tasting Boom
Hits Solvang
By Kate Bardessono

Solvang has recently become host to some of the most enjoyable wine tasting venues in the Santa Ynez Valley. There are currently seven separate tasting rooms and two wine shops to visit, with some new ones on the horizon. The tasting rooms each introduce visitors to the unique wine styles of their own winery, while the wine shops provide wines from a number of different wineries. One of them even has beer and sake tastings. All of the above have friendly and knowledgeable staff that make the Solvang wine tasting experience both enjoyable and educational.	"Fruits of the Vine" by Robert Davis. Contributed by Judith Hale Gallery, Los Olivos.
I visited each of these tasting rooms and shops and made notes on the wines and ambiance of each one—following are my opinions and observations as a person with some years of experience in the Santa Barbara County winemaking industry. I hope that this article helps enhance your own wine tasting and buying experience in Solvang.
Red wine, white wine, sweet wine, dry wine...they are all made by wineries that have been built in the Santa Ynez Valley over the last 30 plus years.	Whether or not you are new to wine tasting, Presidio Winery has well informed staff that are fun and knowledgeable about all aspects of wine. They are happy to answer any questions you may have about their wines, their wine making process or the sustainable farming practices in their vineyards. Owner and operator Michael Mann was easy to talk to, showing me pictures of their beautiful vineyards located near the Santa Rita Hills of Lompoc, and discussing Presidio Winery’s unique Spanish Mission influence and Old World infused winemaking style.
Winemaker Doug Braun has traveled throughout Europe to experience and incorporate Old World techniques of traditional winemaking into the style of wines he produces at Presidio. The tasting room is warm and gracious, and you can relax in the casual atmosphere listening to some classic rock or jazz, while sampling the premium handcrafted wines.	Vines in the early spring in Santa Ynez Valley start producing bright green leaves as the warm spring days replace the cold winters of the area.
While their tasting offers different styles of wine for every palate, Presidio’s focus is on producing well balanced and approachable Burgundian and Rhone styled wines, such as Pinot Noir and Syrah. As I entered the tile floored tasting room of Lucas and Lewellen, I immediately noticed the large selection of beautiful and unique gift items placed around the room on tables with international themes. Their selection of fine ceramics and books are continually changing with the seasons, so their customers can look forward to finding something new with each visit.
As the seasons change, so do the grape vines in hue and color. A harvest of color for photo opportunities.	You may recognize the Lucas and Lewellen label from the movie Sideways, where their Reserve Pinot Noir was featured. Their elegant and sleek tasting room offers seating at a beautiful mahogany bar, where you have your choice of a reserve or a non-reserve tasting featuring a selection of their all-estate wines. (An estate wine is one made from grapes raised on a privately owned vineyard, usually a few acres, as opposed to a large commercial operation.) The tasting room staff at Lucas and Lewellen is energetic and fun, making you smile through your wine tasting experience. It is apparent that they like their work and the wines. I highly recommend that you request a taste of their ‘Silver King’ port wine or their sparkling wine.

(My publishers rave about their Sauvignon Blanc and their Champagne, so you might want to try them, too.) The winery boasts all estate fruit used for their large selection of wines, producing 25 different grape varieties from 400 acres of local vineyards, some of which they own themselves and others that they contract with for grapes.
Royal Oaks Tasting Room is a boutique winery offering a large selection of finely crafted wine at affordable prices. Their wines are made to be approachable and drink very well now, but keep a look out for their new fall 2005 releases that will have a more tannic structure and will benefit from time in the cellar.
  The tasting room is one of the friendliest in town with an easy going staff and a comfortable and informal feel, like a country cottage in the vineyard. They have fun but functional wine themed gift items, including collectible wine bottle holders and hand blown, hand painted Romanian glassware.
   In the wine tasting selections, there’s something for everyone, including an exclusive sampling of the largest selection of semi-sweet wines in the valley, for the palate that enjoys a more fruitful style. They also have a large selection of Bordeaux, Burgundian and Rhone styled varietals with soft forward fruit and an easy style for wines you can drink every day.
   Lions Peak Vineyards isone of the oldest vineyards in the Paso Robles appellation. Their winery is located in the heart of the historic San Miguel region. In this Central Coast wine growing area, the climate is warmer, creating rich and ripe Cabernet Sauvignon that Lion’s Peak Vineyards is known for. The tasting room is richly decorated, and is filled with fine works of art and fun gift items to browse while you enjoy a taste of their current release, or a special library selection of wines.
   Stolpman Vineyards loves Italy’s viticulture and style. This is directly reflected in their elegant Tuscan themed tasting room, as well as in their selection of Italian styled wines. I love the Stolpman Vineyard’s Sangiovese fruit, but they also produce wonderfully complex and flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon blends, and a solid Syrah.
   Stolpman Vineyards is now renovating to create even more of the Tuscan feel of light and warmth to their tasting room. The tasting room’s clean lines and elegance are also reflected in the exclusive selection of German Spiegelau crystal wine glasses and accessories for sale.
   Like the style of their tasting room, the Stolpman family is gracious and elegant, with a love of good wine. The fruit from Stolpman is sought by wineries throughout the area for its depth of character and deliciously textured layers. You’re sure to be impressed by your tasting experience here.
   Mandolina winery has a distinctive and unique Italian style. Upon entering, you may feel like you have stepped into a little shop in Tuscany, complete with authentic Italian ceramic pottery and Italian music playing in the background. The room is filled with bright color and a comfortable feeling of the European countryside.
   Lending atmosphere and interest to the wall of the tasting room are original paintings by the resident artist at Mandolina, Tommy Hacker. Tommy’s style is abstract impressionism, with a Mediterranean feel and themes of music and vineyards painted in lively colors. Many of the paintings are offered for sale at the tasting room, so if you see one you like, don’t hesitate to inquire with a tasting room associate.
   The charming and helpful staff will help you to experience a personal and fun wine tasting. Mandolina showcases wines that are smooth, food-friendly and full of bright fruit flavor. Their Super Tuscan blends of Sangiovese and Bordeaux varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, are their biggest and boldest wines. The newest wine in this style is the 2002 Toccata Riserva, a must try! The first anniversary of the tasting room’s opening is in June, so look for an announcement of an open house coming soon.
   Morovino Fine Wines has received awards and recognition since its first harvest in 1994. Guerrino “Gerry” Moro, Italian born owner and winemaker, produces limited amounts of premium quality wines, Zinfandel, Merlot, Barbera, and Chardonnay from some of the best mature vineyards in Santa Barbara County.
   Morovino’s quaint tasting room is relaxed and casual, reflecting its owner’s active lifestyle and no fuss presentation of the wines that he loves. Gerry Moro represented Canada in the 1964 and the 1972 Olympics in the pole vault and decathlon. He is still active today in teaching kids to pole vault. Everyone is welcome to stop in and chat with the friendly staff who will happily tell you the stories behind the wines.
   Though they concentrate on Italian styled wines, their ‘Tango,” a 50/50 blend of Zinfandel and Merlot, is their most famous and sought after wine. It is a very smooth wine produced from the fantastic fruit of French Camp and Carrari vineyards. Morovino will soon be producing estate wines consisting of Dolcetto, Syrah and Chardonnay.
   In addition to these tasting rooms, which each focus on one specific winery, I recommend that you visit Alisal Cellars on Alisal Road in the basement of the Paaske Building. This is a fine wine shop, where you can sample and purchase wines from several local wineries. They also have a large selection of wines and beer from around the world, and even Japanese sake. Friendly and family-run, Alisal Cellars provides an old-world atmosphere in a real wine cellar, that was built in the 1960’s to Old World specifications. You can choose from two fine wine tasting selections, savor a dessert wine tasting, try a beer tasting, or just have a glass of beer. On the weekends they also have special Champagne and Sake tastings.
   Alisal Cellars also has a large array of crystal and glassware available for purchase to enhance the flavors of your own wine or beer at home. They also feature a small coffee bar where particular Europeans of high expectations that I know will testify that they have the best espresso in town!
   I highly recommend that you take a weekend to experience wine tasting in Solvang for yourself. You’re sure to have a fantastic new perspective on the personality and lifestyle of Solvang’s exciting winemaking culture. Be prepared to bring home lots of fun gift items and enough wine to fill your home with a taste of Santa Barbara County wine country!
   Cabana is a new tasting room/wine shop that’s just opening in April on the north side of Mission Drive near Fourth Place. Cabana is owned and operated by wine and travel enthusiast, Eric John, who also owns a successful wine tour business in the valley. Eric is passionate about travel, exotic beers and unique, delicious wines from around the world and he brings that passion to Cabana. At Cabana you’ll be able to enjoy comfortable luxury in an elegant room with European flair. Stop by to do a tasting with fine Riedel stemware, discuss Eric’s private art collection rotating on display, or sip a glass of wine with friends in the living room vignette. Cabana is certain to be the place to meet for all friends and wine lovers!
   Cabernet Bistro, one of the best restaurants in Solvang, is opening a newwine and appetizer bar at their 1555 Copenhagen Drive entrance. (Their main dining room entrance is on Fourth Street, but there is a separate room with an elegantly carved antique bar that has its own entrance on Copenhagen.) Owners Diane and Jaques Toulet hope that you can stop by to enjoy some wonderful appetizers and a glass of fine wine after a long day touring our beautiful Valley and its towns. Affordable appetizers and extended hours make this an ideal spot to spend a relaxing evening, or a prelude to one of their delicious dinners. (My publishers say that they go to Cabernet Bistro for dinner whenever they have a chance, which they wish was more often.) They intend to try out the new tasting room next time they are in Solvang with a little time to spare. I think I will, too.
   Also coming soon is the Honeywood Winery tasting room/wine shop out of Salem, Oregon, which will be opening in June, or perhaps a little sooner, near Cabana on Mission Drive. Honeywood Winery is the largest producer of fruit wines in the United States, producing over 30 varieties. The tasting room will also feature wines from local boutique wineries, novel gift items and gourmet foods.