DAY-TRIPPING IN THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

(As appeared in Wine Country This Week-10/06/20) 

 Zaca Mesa Winery

 Donald Sonderling

 

Sip, Savor, Taste, Escape, Decompress

A wine tasting outing to Zaca Mesa Winery is an exquisite, relaxing sensual experience. Surrounded by vineyards, rolling hills, sunflowers peeking at you, a canopy of old California oaks overhead, you will unwind, escaping the pressures of today’s world. Over a dozen picnic tables and high-top tables, well-spaced apart, allows Zaca Mesa to offer tastings of their award-winning wines, in a safe, inviting setting ... you won’t want to leave.

Currently Zaca Mesa offers two different tasting menus:  The Mixed Flight (including an elegant Chardonnay with grapes sourced from Zotovich Vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills), and their 2016 Estate Recusant, an Amphora aged Grenache/Mourvedre blend. If you prefer a strictly Red Flight, you will be treated to their 2016 Clydesdale (100% Estate Syrah, 94 points from Wine Enthusiast) in addition to several other reds, reflective of the terroir.  Either selection will tease and entice your palate.  You will always find something new and exciting crafted by winemaker Kristin Bryden and her team.
Zaca Mesa is also completing a new event space (for the future) and Club Member Lounge.  The lounge will be available for club members within the next month, to sit out on the front patio, and be mesmerized by the vineyards and serene setting stretching before you.  There is also an outdoor wedding venue, among the vines, that will eventually accommodate 150 guests.
Visit their website to reserve your table on weekends.  Walk-ins will be seated during the week, as space allows, but advance reservations are suggested.  Bring a picnic lunch or snacks to accompany your wine, as you sit, sip, savor, relax and exhale; experience Shangri-La among the vines.

 

(Virtual tastings with Garrett Black, brand ambassador and certified sommelier are also available. See website for details).

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Don Sonderling is a freelance writer covering California’s Wine country lifestyle and culture-from the Central Coast up through the Napa Valley.  He can be reached at:  donsonderling@gmail.com

 In the Coronavirus world.......there is still a world of tasting and visiting you can do, and from the comfort of your own living room!   So, order up some wine, make an appointment, put on your favorite most comfortable "at home" attire....and get ready to have a virtual tasting experience!  Learn, laugh, have fun, and be introduced to new wines and experiences!

Please click on the link below (my introduction to Wine Tasting 101.....on P. 6).....and get ready for tasting California's Wine Country!

http://www.winecountrythisweek.com/issue/special-covid-issue

One on One with Zaca Mesa Winery’s

Garrett Black

Tasting Room Manager|Brand Ambassador|Wine Educator/Certified Sommelier

Family owned Zaca Mesa Winery has been a pioneer in Santa Barbara’s wine country since 1973.  After originally planting Bordeaux and Burgundian varietals, it didn’t take long to realize that the geology and terroir was best suited to Rhone varietals.  At the start of the 90’s Zaca Mesa transitioned to growing almost 100% Rhone varietals (planting the first Syrah in the Central Coast in 1978).  The last non Rhone Varietal, Chardonnay, was pulled at the end of the 2013 harvest.

Following in the footsteps of Zaca Mesa’s many trend setting winemakers, Kristin Bryden, Zaca’s current innovative winemaker, began a very special project to pay tribute to the original Zaca Mesa varietals: The Homage Collection.  Grapes are sourced from the area’s finest vineyards to produce hand crafted wines that were originally grown on the Zaca Mesa Estate.  I had the pleasure of doing a virtual tasting with Garrett Black on the newest addition to the Homage series, a 2018 Chardonnay, sourced from Zotovich Vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills.

                           

The Chardonnay was exquisite.  As we were sipping, we first chatted about the characteristics of the wine, which had a fresh, aromatic nose, with scents of stone fruit and an enticing earthiness.  The flavors were seductive (and especially refreshing, sipping it outside in 90 degree heat), with layers that were intertwined, giving an earthy, lemon zest lingering finish.   Aged 9 months in neutral oak, the wine is an expression of this cooler climate special terroir.  Garrett explained that with the Homage series, there is no set formula.  Wines are tasted and aged as necessary, and released when “they are right.”  This particular wine was released just this past February.  Kristin wants to “keep things interesting” with the Homage series, and is always looking at different vineyards to source these “original” varietals from.

As we enjoyed this elegant wine together online, Garrett spoke of how making wine education enjoyable was one of his and Zaca Mesa’s goals.  He has found social media a useful tool to introduce, and educate wine lovers to the many aspects of wine. 

The website is kept current, detailing free online sessions that are being offered.  Garrett conducts these INSTAGRAM sessions twice weekly at 5:00pm:  WEDNESDAYS are more wine specific, focusing on a particular varietal.  SATURDAYS have more of a concentration on education, and may include vineyard and winery tours.  Live tastings are also held on YouTube following the original broadcast.  To enhance your live on-line experience, wines may be ordered from the winery, so you can sip along while enjoying the live, virtual event.

You will find Garrett to be a welcoming host, sipping in the comfort of your yard or home, joining Garret in the vineyard, winery or his own backyard.  Check the website for updated events and tastings.  Cheers.

WWW.ZACAMESA.COM

April 2, 2020

Good Day Wine, Food and Travel lovers!  In these challenging times, I want to share with you the latest edition of  VERY NAPA VALLEY magazine...….this is a good time to sip back, relax, fantasize and plan your next trip to Napa Valley.....and start making a bucket list of where to go, what to see, where to sip, where to eat, and where to explore....such as:

Grand Cru Vineyards of Napa Valley

Fairy Tale Wedding Venues

Winery Gardens to Stroll Amongst and Visit

plus several other articles of interest that will capture your imagination....INCLUDING:

FACES OF HOSPITALITY!  On Pages 12-28 meet and greet some of the faces that make YOUR Napa Valley Experience extra special.  I was honored to meet, sip, eat and visit with these amazing people.....Sommeliers, Chefs, Winemakers, Restaurant workers.....such as

 Bob Bolann, Bremer Family Winery

 Alan Arnopole, Peju's Yodelmeister

 My lovely wife Lynn, enjoying a fabulous meal at LaToque

 Chef Valentina and Fabiola at Ca'Momi

And, a little tease of wonderful Napa Valley Creativeness

So please, check the website:  www.verynapavalley.com

and enjoy planning to celebrate life in Napa Valley..

We all need food, wine, romance and beautiful places in our future

Don Sonderling

writing about California's Wine Country Culture

donsonderling@gmail.com