Wine Tasting Pandemic Style

Pursuing Pinot has been experiencing creative shut down during the pandemic. However, I have encountered two new wineries that I want to share with you. My daughter, Hilary, and I ventured to Santa Barbara County in June to visit several of our favorite wineries and one new to us, Andrew Murray Vineyards. Lots of new rules were in place such as required reservations, face coverings until seated, and different tasting formats. Some wineries were not doing tastings, but only offering wine by the glass. Others offered tastings, but only in a seated format. But it was great to be back out at the wineries!

Andrew Murray Grounds

Andrew Murray fell in love with wine while traveling in France during college. He decided to leave school and go to Australia on an internship. Shiraz became his passion and when he returned to the U.S., he enrolled at UC Davis and earned a degree in viticulture and enology. He founded his own winery and set out to make world class Rhône varietals, with an emphasis on Syrah.

This winery was offering wines by the glass, so we began with their Espérance Rosé 2019 and 2018 Viognier. Espérance, which means “hope,” is the branding name for the Murray wine blends including red, white, and rosé. The rosé is an unusual blend of 90% Cinsault, 6% Grenache, and 4% Syrah. It is one of those perfect summer wines – crisp and refreshing. We then shared a glass of their 2017 Espérance GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend). It was an easy drinking red wine, good for any season.  GSMs will pair well with cheese and charcuterie, pastas, or chicken dishes.

The variety and quality of the wines is impressive and the property is beautiful.  There are many perks for wine club members and some of the Murray wines can be found online.

Jaffurs Barrel Room

The second winery I discovered during a recent trip to the city of Santa Barbara. I inquired about wineries or tasting rooms in town that I should visit and Jaffurs was highly recommended. The winery was founded in 1994 by Craig Jaffurs, known as a trailblazer for Rhône varietals in the area. Dan and Janelle Green acquired the winery in 2016. They purchase fruit from well known vineyards in the Santa Barbara County growing regions and then do all of the wine making and cellaring at their downtown facility.

Miranda, the tasting room manager, provided a delicious and informational tasting in the winery courtyard, where socially distanced tasting tables were arranged. I was impressed with the 2016 Chardonnay, brimming with ripe lemon and apple aromas and flavors. This is the style of Chardonnay I favor, medium bodied with a nice finish. The 2016 Grenache, a gorgeous clear ruby color, has floral notes on the nose and dark plum flavors. It is partly whole cluster fermented which adds texture and spice. The 2018 Syrah Santa Barbara County is stellar. Each year, the winemakers create a Syrah blended from the fruit of several vineyards. This incredibly well priced wine is deeply pigmented and full of dark fruits and spice. It has wonderful acidity and balance, making it a perfect food wine. Jaffurs’ production is small, a total of about 5,000 each year.  Even if you can’t visit in person, you may be able to find some of their excellent wines online.

I hope all of you have been drinking (lots) of good wine! Good food and wine shared with family and close friends certainly helps pass the time.

Cheers!