Their charming Wine Director, David Cane, led me to their sparkling wines–a wall of sparkling wines, as well as real champagne.
He explained that Champagne is from France; all other bubblies are officially “sparkling wine.” But many of the great French champagne names, like Taittinger and Chandon, have begun making sparkling wine in California. The process is “methode champagne,” but the product has to be called Sparkling Wine. What this means is that you can get sparkling wine that is very close to champagne for a fraction of the price. Actual champagne varies dramatically in price as well: the priciest French bubbly they had is Krug Grand Cuvé, at $242.99. But you can get Moet & Chandon Imperial Champagne for $43.99. And Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, the #1 selling champagne world-wide, is just $52.99. Mr. Cane also recommended a Roederer Estate Brut Rose Sparkling Wine for $30.99, while I found out about Champagne cocktails. They carry Creme Yvette “Delicieuse Liqueur,” a perfect mixer for
divine champagne cocktails.
Next stop was Los Olivos Tasting Room and Wine Merchant, California’s first wine tasting room. Owner Chris Benziger pointed out that his list of wines can include 45 to 55 different labels. As he specializes in Pinot Noir, he’s only offering three sparkling wines in his current line-up. But as he chooses the best available and is a very discriminating judge of wines, you can trust the quality. You can choose Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé, Varichon & Clerc Brut Privilège Blanc de Blancs, or Flying Goat 2008 Goat Bubbles.
I had heard of these Flying Goat people, they are incurably whimsical. But Goat Bubbles? We’d have to go to the Lompoc Wine Ghetto to get to the bottom of that!
But on the way we’ll stop at Avant, the tasting room at Terravant, the winemaking facility located down on Industrial Way in Buellton. This is a pretty exciting place to taste wine. First, the building is enormous and state-of-the-art. They process and bottle wine for vintners all over the Valley. Second, in the tasting room, you can order Tapas, savory appetizers that are way better than crackers and cheese.
Here we enjoy a Lucas and Lewellen Sparkling Brut wine, dry but fruity and very effervescent, it paired nicely with the Tapas.
Finally, we head west, for Lompoc, the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley. I heard there’s a new wine bar there, D’Vine. We’ll see what they’ve got, then visit Flying Goat in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto.
D’Vine is downtown, on Ocean Avenue just past “H” Street, Lompoc’s main drag. D’Vine serves Italian Prosecco and Italian Moscato Sparkling Wine. Prosecco is crisp and dry, while Moscato is sweeter. We learned that on Valentine’s Day, D’Vine will be serving sparkling wines from Spain to Spanish flamenco guitar. And they’re now serving Tapas in their tasting room.
We might have to stop at Penelope’s Teas and Gifts for a cup of tea and a scone or something before venturing out to Flying Goat! If you do drive through the Valley on a wine tasting tour, make sure you take it slow and eat along the way. A designated driver is a good idea, and there are many taxi services for wine tasters as well.
The Wine Ghetto is on the west edge of Lompoc, take Ocean to 7th street and turn left, then right at Chestnut Court. This industrial park has attracted some of the finest boutique wineries in the Central Coast, such as Sea Smoke, Palmina, and Flying Goat.
To my delight, I find Norm Yost and his publicity director and wife Kathleen Griffith are up to their ears in Goat Bubbles, so I persuade Norm to explain.Turns out he calls his sparkling wine “Goat Bubbles” because, “With Goat Bubbles, we believe that everyday is a gift and deserves celebration!”
Flying Goat Cellars just launched the first wine club in the region dedicated to sparkling! They call it Club Celebrate, where “A Toast is Not Just for Breakfast!”
Club Celebrate offers preferred access to Yost’s limited production of four unique artisanal sparkling wines. For 2011, this includes a Rose from Solomon Hills Vineyard, a Blanc de Blancs from Sierra Madre Vineyard, a Blanc de Noirs from Clos Pepe Vineyard and a new varietal that will be a surprise later in the year.
Using traditional methode champenoise winemaking techniques, Yost produced his first sparkling wine in 2005. All of his wines are completely handcrafted, from bottling and riddling to disgorging and labeling, with the final touch of a hand wax seal. Each bottle is truly a labor of love.
“We seek to get consumers excited about drinking bubbles for every occasion,” exclaims Yost. “It’s a great way to start the new decade!”
We couldn’t agree more. And with so many sources for lovingly crafted, locally produced bubbly, you’re sure to be able to give your sweetheart a fizzy frisson with sparkling wine this Valentine’s Day.
|
