Alta Maria Sauvignon Blanc
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The Alta Maria 2021 Santa Barbara County Sauvignon Blanc has a focused classic style. It is an exclusive blend of small vineyards in the mid-Santa Ynez Valley, which is the warmer side of a cool climate, in Santa Barbara County.
- James Ontiveros and his team oversee every aspect of the winemaking process.
- Sustainable Farming is used.
- The vines are a mix of older and newer plantings and clones.
Varietal Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Elaboration: Hand harvested at night to preserve character and limit skin contact, the whole clusters were pressed and fermented in a mix of neutral oak and stainless steel tanks.
Tasting Notes: Honey, melon, lemon grass, Bartlett & Asian pear lead this open knit gulpable 100% Sauv Blanc. The palet is midweight, with the buoyancy of fresh, bright acidity, and the mouth feel gets complex with stony chalky. Men are Aldi, and a slight complement of oiliness, which seems a bit more Graves than California. PRESS
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PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Alta Maria Vineyards was established in 2005 by James Ontiveros who also owns Ranchos de Ontiveros, featuring estate-sourced, single-site, single-vineyard wine. His Native9 Pinot Noir represents the ninth generation of the Ontiveros family in California, going back to a 1781 land grant within the pueblo of Los Angeles. The family’s roots trace back to La Rioja in Old Spain in the 1500s.
Eventually, James’ fifth great-grandfather, Don Juan Pacifico Ontiveros, and his wife, Doña Martina, moved their extensive farming operation north to Santa Barbara County in search of water and more land. They settled in what would become the town of Santa Maria.
While James’ estate wines are crafted with an old-world approach, Alta Maria wines celebrate the fruit of the appellation. They are light, fresh, and savory. The name Alta means high or elevated and exudes a refined aura that, like fine wine, will age well. The name Maria is an homage to the ancestors of James Ontiveros who left a legacy of love for the lush Santa Maria River valley.