Although under different ownership, the backbone of Alma Rosa Winery still harks back to its beginnings with Richard Sanford, one of the pioneers of Santa Barbara Wine Country. Richard forged the roads to bring the Sta. Rita Hills on the map by establishing and planting one of the first vineyards in the area in 1971.
March is the month we celebrate women during Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is women providing healing and promoting hope. That can be interpreted in many ways, and for someone who loves wine, it is a female winemaker who promotes hope by nurturing the vineyard and creating a wine bringing hope as we can
Let’s explore Dornfelder, a grape that originated in Germany. The grape was created by August Herold in 1956 at the grape breeding institute in Weinsberg, the Württemberg region of Germany. It is a cross of two Vitis Vinifera, Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe. Dornfelder’s name honors one of the founders of the viticultural school in Weinsberg, Immanuel
It does not take much to entice my husband and me to drive up to the Central Coast to go wine tasting. Santa Barbara County has so many areas to visit, including Solvang, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Los Alamos, and Lompoc. The various appellations of Santa Barbara County open the door to many options for
As we follow the path of life, our journeys enrich us through the people we meet, the places we visit, and even the wine we taste. Recently visiting with Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribo Tena and learning about their Camins 2 Dreams winery, you know their love of wine, and each other has led them
Visiting Sanford Winery is like a trip down memory lane because the founders of this winery pioneered the region, putting both Santa Barbara County and Sta. Rita Hills on the map as a prominent wine producing areas for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Meeting the current owner, John Terlato, and Winemaker Steve Fennell, one realizes they
It does not take much to convince me to make a trip to Santa Barbara or sip Pinot Noir. When I received an invitation to the Santa Barbara Vintners Pinot Noir tasting at the Bacara Resort & Spa, it offered a nice opportunity for my husband and I to get away from Los Angeles, enjoy
It is always a night to remember when you come out to enjoy the wines of Sta. Rita Hills. Set against the backdrop of the La Purisima Mission and the oak trees that surround the Mission’s courtyard, one cannot help but rejoice in the pleasures of the wine of this Santa Barbara County region and
Each year the wines from Crawford Family Wines get better and better. I first discovered Crawford wines at the Sta. Rita Hills Wine and Fire event in 2013. The growth and development of both the wine and the winery are impressive as the Horvath’s continue through their pursuit of balance. Since that time, they have
Since the Wine Institute has designated April as Earth Month, I am exploring wineries that utilize sustainable practices in most aspects of their grape growing and winemaking process. Each winery employs its own set of standards and principles to attain its goal of sustainability. One winery determined to pave the way to establishing a strong