Los Olivos for Grownups: Alta Maria Vineyards
Alta Maria wines (along with Native 9 wines and Autonom wines) have been around for almost a decade, but now that they’ve opened a tasting room along the main drag in Los Olivos – the tasting room town of Santa Barbara wine county – I’m even more inclined to make a run through town.
In a typical weekend rush of tourists from Orange & LA counties plus Santa Barbara wine tour companies, the Alta Maria Vineyards tasting room is a lovely and cool respite from any wine-tasting-bachelortte-or-birthday-partying on the street. It’s sophisticated and down-to-earth. It’s western and classy. It’s minimalist and Pottery Barn.
The wine on the tasting list also demonstrates such duality. In addition to the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Alta Maria is known for, the have a unique Sauvignon Blanc and solid Cabernet Sauvignon on the list, just created for the tasting room. The Chardonnay is half oak-fermented and half stainless steel to give us a lemon cream tart with lots of acidity. And the Alta Maria Pinot Noir is a perfect blend of fruit, wood and earth, a basic Pinot Noir that’s a steal at $28 a bottle.
But the list has more. Viticulturist James Ontiveros is pouring his baby here: Native 9 Pinot Noir. And this is the only place you can taste the 2009 Pinot Noir. This wine is from a vineyard on his multi-generational family’s property in Santa Maria valley, where he grows 8 different clones and blends different concoctions each year to create a fuller, exotic Pinot Noir.
And the winemaker of the duo, Paul Wilkins, got his love for Rhone varietals working for John Alban of Alban Vineyards. His Autonom SM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) is almost sold out because if its nose of bacon fat and pie crust (this sounds like heaven in a glass) and perfect balance, and his Autonom Syrah is a blend of cold-climate fruit and warm-climate fruit that manages to be vegetal, fruity and spicy.
Grown-up heaven.
You are making me thirsty!
You are making me thirsty as well I must agree with Jeremy! I’m such a wine fanatic and Santa Barbara County is one of my favorite places to go wine tasting and just have a good time. Los Olivos is so cute and the wine is by far out of this world. Watch out Napa! Santa Barbara has some great places to check out as well for wine. The Santa Barbara Winery is really good and a one of my favorites! If I’m ever in the area I always stay at the South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com). Close to the vineyards and worth every penny!
Los Olivos is an old time favorite for me. Such a cute town and the wine is out of this world. Good restaurants and the bed and breakfasts they have available are very nice, a bit pricy though. The last time I stayed there it was dreadfully hot and the commute to Santa Barbara was becoming a bit much. Now I just stick to staying in town! I enjoy being close to the beach but having the wine close by! I’m a big fan of the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com). Affordable and right in downtown, close to a ton of wineries.
Los Olivos is one of my favorite places to wine taste in Central Cali-of course next to Santa Barbara. Basically the same thing though! Cute little streets and the restaurants there are to die for and so is the wine. A grown up play ground if you are only looking to wine taste. Venture into Santa Barbara for some great shopping, beaches and much much more! The South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com) is where I always stay and countless others because it is so reliable and comfortable to be at.