Charismatic Central Coast

A recent visit to the lovely Central Coast included visits to three wineries new to me. My daughter, Hilary, had previously visited Riverbench and one of my friends recommended Dierberg and Sunstone.

Riverbench is situated on the southeastern edge of the Santa Maria Valley, the northernmost AVA in Santa Barbara County. Pinot Noir vines make up the majority of the vineyard with a smaller number of acres planted with Chardonnay and recently added Pinot Meunier because of the commitment Riverbench has made to its production of fine sparkling wines. All of the sparkling wines we tasted were impressive, but their 2010 Cork Jumper Blanc de Noirs stood out. It is a beautiful apricot color and features aromas of strawberry and raspberry. In the mouth, the wine is smooth and full bodied due to some aging and the nature of the Pinot Noir grape – less acidity, more rounded. Riverbench is also known for its world class Pinot Noir. My top choice was the 2016 Santa Maria Valley Clone 115. The wine’s scent is primarily of dark berries with floral undertones. It is a beautifully balanced wine, which when tasted, evolves into additional dark fruit flavors with the slightest touch of smoke that you might perceive as a bacony flavor. Even with just a small tasting, the wine changed and evolved in the glass – I can’t wait to enjoy the bottle I purchased.

A stop at Dierberg Star Lane was delightful. I was interested to learn that the owners are from Missouri and began their wine making journey in Hermann, Missouri.  Over time, they realized that to grow the wine grapes they loved the most, they would need to relocate and found property in Santa Barbara County. We tasted through the flight of wines offered and enjoyed all of them. My favorites at Deirberg were their 2015 Chardonnay and the 2016 Syrah. The Chardonnay is nicely rounded with flavors of stone fruit and the acid zing of citrus. The Syrah is a cool climate Syrah, making it less heavy than those produced in warmer climates. The wine has lots of dark fruit aromas and flavors and a touch of pepper. It would be delicious with pork tenderloin coated with a mixture of blackberry jam, garlic, and fresh rosemary.

Sunstone Vineyards and Winery is a glorious, organically certified 52-acre property in the Santa Ynez Valley. It includes a large tasting room and, in nice weather, outdoor tasting stations. There are many lovely spaces to sit and enjoy the natural beauty while sipping their outstanding wines. Our tasting host, Ashley, provided us with an excellent experience, answering all of our questions and treating us to a couple of extra tastes. I truly loved all of the wines, but as always, there were a couple that stood out. Their 2018 Grenache Rosé is a pale pink beauty that has the smell and taste of freshly picked strawberries. It is everything a rosé should be and I look forward to enjoying it throughout the spring and summer months.  The 2016 Merlot Reserve is a superstar. It is deeply colored and as you put your nose to the glass the immediate impression is of black cherry and sweet spices. The feel of the wine in the mouth is lush and the flavors include dark berries and a hint of green bell pepper.  This is the Merlot that anyone who thinks they don’t like Merlot should try!

Every visit to the Central Coast is a joy. The scenery is magnificent and always different depending on the time of year and weather. The vineyard owners and staff always make you feel truly welcome and are eager to share their knowledge. There are still countless wineries to explore and I’m up for the challenge!

Cheers!