Spring is here and so are we! With an epic 🌼superbloom🌼 and bud break underway, we have been celebrating with some wines that represent the bright growth of the season. Someone tell Miley she doesn’t have to buy herself flowers with the wildflower views we are getting. Instead, you can buy yourself the following floral bottles…

Uncorked

Demetria Cuveé Papou

The name of this 2021 white wine tells us a lot about the Greek owned Demetria Estate & Vineyards. Cuveé often means blend in the wine world and this white wine is a blend of 40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Marsanne, and 30% Roussanne. Papou means grandfather in Greek and this bottle is honoring the founder and grandfather of the family, John Zahoudanis. Despite its Greek roots, Demetria (named after their daughter) is located in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County. The STUNNING property boasts biodynamically farmed vineyards and is one of the highest elevated vineyards in the appellation.

Nose: white flowers, ripe honeydew

Palette: vanilla, apricot, honeysuckle

Pairs well with: Demetria suggests herb crusted chicken thighs with buttery orzo. We had fish tacos with mango salsa, but any steak-like fish will do (salmon, tuna, swordfish, snapper). Grouper and calamari steaks are on weekly special at Santa Barbara Fish Market until the 3rd!

Slamdance Koöperatieve Red Table Wine

Natural wine lovers rejoice! This 2020 red blend was produced with native yeast, majority whole cluster, neutral oak, and minimal sulphur added. From the Paso Robles AVA (Willow Creek and Creston Districts) winemaker, Daniel Callan, set out to honor historical pre-prohibition CA varietals. The result is a delicious slightly chilled red comprised of 43% Valdiguié, 36% Cinsaut, and 21% Négrette.

Nose: red fruits, bay leaf

Palette: raspberry, lavender, elderberry

Pairs well with: Charcuterie board! Grab some goat cheese, blue cheese, meats, and smoked veggies for your next Mission lawn picnic.

Available at: Satellite Santa Barbara, Paso Robles Wine Merchant

Rusack Estate Mission

A freshly bottled 2022 Mission, which is actually the varietal! Not widely planted in California, the Mission varietal is the oldest found in the Americas. Brought over by Catholic Spanish missionaries, it can more commonly be found in Chile and Argentina. Rusack Vineyards got their hands on some of the last cuttings on Santa Cruz Island off the coast of Santa Barbara, and revived the root stalk in the Ballard Canyon AVA. Like the Slamdance bottle, this light and fruity red is best enjoyed slightly chilled (ideally next to a pool).

Nose: strawberry

Palette: cherry, hibiscus, fruit punch

Pairs well with: Try it with za’atar roasted chicken (Zaytoon date night?) or paella (leftover Loquita?). Honestly, this is such a food friendly wine!

This wine should be released to the public on the Rusack website very soon! However, give Rusack a call or visit the vineyards and they’ll be happy to sell you a bottle.

Bud Break

The very first step in the life cycle of vines is called bud break. It’s the appearance of new shoots and leaves growing on vines and it’s happening in most CA vineyards right now.

Check out the article below written by Austin Collins of Tablas Creek Vineyard. He grew up on the property, as the son of the winemaker, and is now having a full circle moment raising his own family there as well. As an expert of this vineyard, he gives data on bud break from the last decade with some compare and contrast photos from the past few weeks.

What’s happening

There’s no shortage of events happening up and down the coast this week…

• Winemaker Hang with Laura Roach: Laura makes fantastic bubbles and will be pouring flights at Pico in Los Alamos on Thursday, May 4th from 5-7 pm. $20/ticket

• Dinner with the Winemaker-Nancy Ulloa: On Friday, May 5th at 6:30 pm you can experience a dinner prepared by Clean Slate’s own, Chef Melissa Scrymgeour in Solvang. Your dinner will be in good company with Nancy Ulloa and her Ulloa Cellars wines. $150/ticket

• Refrigerated Sunlight at The Hilt: A very special and exclusive day of Chardonnay tasting with winemaker, Matt Dees, on Saturday, May 6th from 11 am-2 pm. Catered by Santa Barbara’s Kanaloa Seafood with Valmar Records DJing. $165/ticket

• Roar and Pour: Unlimited tastings from more than 30 local wineries held at the Santa Barbara Zoo on Saturday, May 6th from 5-8 pm. Feed the animals and yourself with tasty eats for purchase from local food trucks and Rincon Catering. $95/ticket

• Downtown Santa Cruz Spring Wine Walk: On Sunday, May 7th enjoy a sip and stroll event from 3-6 pm with wines from 12 different wineries. $40/ticket

• An Afternoon with Sergio Gomba: Enjoy an educational tasting and food pairing at Pico in Los Alamos on Sunday, May 7th from 12-2 pm. Winemaker Sergio Gomba from Piedmont, Italy is teaming up with Chef Cameron Ingle to prepare a 3 course event. $70/ticket

• Dog Hike in the Zaca Mesa Vineyard: On Sunday, May 7th at 10 am take a leisurely hike with your pup followed by a catered lunch and wine tasting…fun! There will be special treats for your furry friends too. $60/ticket

Cheers!