2016 Estate Viognier - Rideau Vineyards 

Honeydew melon, peach blossom, juicy mango. Fresh pineapple, macadamia nut, guava chunks. Anise & crushed cacao, coconut husks & bitter herbs complicate a lusciously beautiful tropical fruit salad. Mellow salty waves wash in on a secluded rocky beach as you sip a Mai Tai with a mini umbrella garnish. This wine tastes exactly like a vacation to Hawaii: Carefree, tropical, and fun enough to relax and enjoy, but staggeringly complex and beautiful if you take a closer look. This 2016 Estate Viognier by Rideau Vineyards is a masterfully crafted unconventional Santa Barbara white.

Rideau Vineyard was first planted in 1997 in a unique microclimate of the Los Olivos district of Santa Barbara that is ideally suited to Rhone varietals. Their vineyards surround a histortic Spanish-style adobe structure called "El Alamo Pintado" which dates back to the 1800's. Their winemaking philosophy is that of letting nature take its course - all grapes are hand harvested and fermented with native yeasts and the wines develop with tailored use of French oak. The precision of their wines is distinct and shows from the first sip. California Viogniers just dont typically have this level of focus and drive. Somehow Rideau has pulled off a completely captivating and unique wine that is refreshing yet totally heady. Oh, and did we mention they have one of the coolest labels we've seen in a while?