VinoDuo is Lisa & Gary. Engaged in Sonoma. Honeymooned in Napa. Vacationed in
Temecula (CA), Woodinville (WA), and other off the beaten path wine regions. We’ve married our love of wine with our passion for travel, visiting lesser-known wine regions throughout the United
States. We’ve got strong opinions about the pros and cons of each wine region and this is our forum for airing and sharing them.
Trip to Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara Wine Country encompasses the areas of Santa Barbara, Solvang, Buelton, Santa Ynez, and so on. For our purposes, let’s just call it “Santa Barbara County” and you’ll know what we’re talking about. Yes, we went there three years ago, before Sideways came out. Can’t say we had any life-changing experiences like they did in the movie, but we didn’t swig a spit jar or bang up a car either.
Alexander & Wayne
Located in Los Olivos, A&W (not the root beer) is one of the lesser-known wineries in the region. And with 3,000 cases per year, one of the smallest. Just our taste.
What We Bought
• 20001 Chardonnary, Reserve Careaga Canyon Vineyard
Chimere Winery
Their Web site is down and it seems like Chimere has closed, which is a shame because we bought two wonderful bottles there and have been raving about it for three years.
Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard
We’re a little too young to remember Davy Crockett, but Fess Parker Winery has much more going for it than its namesake’s place in TV history. I think they play up the Crockett connection a little too much with some tacky labels and names (Frontier Red), but it probably works for them, marketing-wise. Parker’s reds are particularly well regarded.
What We Bought
• 2000 Los Olivos Zinfandel
Firestone Vineyard
Yeah, that guy Andrew Firestone was on some Bachelor show...we only watch PBS
We didn’t buy anything so let’s hope he makes it as a reality star.
Zaca Mesa Winery
Not a quaint family owned winery, Zaca Mesa is owned by a group of investors. But we didn’t hold it against them—it was one of our favorite wineries.
What We Bought
• 2001 The Mesa O&N Syrah
For information about Santa Barbara County wineries visit www.sbcountywines.com
Alexander & Wayne
Located in Los Olivos, A&W (not the root beer) is one of the lesser-known wineries in the region. And with 3,000 cases per year, one of the smallest. Just our taste.
What We Bought
• 20001 Chardonnary, Reserve Careaga Canyon Vineyard
Chimere Winery
Their Web site is down and it seems like Chimere has closed, which is a shame because we bought two wonderful bottles there and have been raving about it for three years.
Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard
We’re a little too young to remember Davy Crockett, but Fess Parker Winery has much more going for it than its namesake’s place in TV history. I think they play up the Crockett connection a little too much with some tacky labels and names (Frontier Red), but it probably works for them, marketing-wise. Parker’s reds are particularly well regarded.
What We Bought
• 2000 Los Olivos Zinfandel
Firestone Vineyard
Yeah, that guy Andrew Firestone was on some Bachelor show...we only watch PBS
We didn’t buy anything so let’s hope he makes it as a reality star.Zaca Mesa Winery
Not a quaint family owned winery, Zaca Mesa is owned by a group of investors. But we didn’t hold it against them—it was one of our favorite wineries.
What We Bought
• 2001 The Mesa O&N Syrah
For information about Santa Barbara County wineries visit www.sbcountywines.com
When will you drink the Zaca Mesa O&N 2001?
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Colleen:
I'm laying it down until early 2007 and counting the days! Zaca Mesa is one of our favorite producers and they've never let us down.
Thanks for checking out vinoduo.com.
Gary (and Lisa)
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