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WINERY REFLECTIONS

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Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara County sits on California's Central Coast and is one of the most beautiful, diverse, and exciting wine regions in the world. Thanks to a rare transverse mountain formation that runs East/West from the coast Santa Barbara wine country experiences significant maritime cooling influences. A thick blanket of fog creeps over the vineyards almost every night, cooling the air and allowing the wine grape to retain all-important acidity. Close to the ocean temperatures remain very low throughout the day, rarely topping 70 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, making coastal Santa Barbara surprisingly one of the coolest growing regions on the west coast. Further inland temperatures warm up significantly and allow for an entire new range of varietals to grown. While the primary varietals grown in Santa Barbara County are Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, everything from Cabernet Sauvignon to Syrah and even Grenache can grow successfully here. No where else on earth does world-class Pinot Noir grow so close to high quality Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. Not only is the climate special, but the soils in Santa Barbara County are unique as well. Large deposits of diatomaceous earth line the hillsides of Santa Rita Hills giving wines a distinct oceanic character, and unique oil-rich "Monterey Formation" is present as well. Limestone, sandy soil, and even serpentine and chert can be found here and are highly valuable for quality wine production. While Santa Barbara may have gained a majority of its fame from being featured in the movie "Sideways" it certainly has more than enough to offer to keep the serious wine drinker captivated.

Ampelos Cellars

September 19, 2022


Earthy raspberry, forest floor, muddled dark cherry. Cranberry preserves, black olive, fresh fig…

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In Wine, Santa Barbara Tags Ampelos Cellars, Pinot Noir
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Ampelos Cellars

April 22, 2021
Ampelos Viognier 2019.jpg

Singed lemon, struck flint, crisp yellow pear. Canned peach, blooming plumeria, grapefruit pith…

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In Wine, Santa Barbara Tags Ampelos Cellars, Viognier
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Ampelos Cellars

December 4, 2020

Brambly blackberry, coarse black pepper, spicy raspberry. Sour plum, overgrown briar, dark cherry pit…

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In Wine, Santa Barbara Tags Ampelos Cellars, Syrah
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Ampelos Cellars

December 31, 2019
Ampelos Pinot Noir.jpg

Earthy dark cherry, potting soil, ripe blood orange. Sweet strawberry, fragrant potpourri, pomegranate reduction…

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In Wine, Santa Barbara Tags Ampelos Cellars, Pinot Noir
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Ampelos Cellars

August 30, 2019
Ampelos Viognier .jpg

Sticky passionfruit, fragrant honeysuckle, perfectly ripe apricot. Fresh guava puree, waxy lanolin, key lime pie filling…

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In Wine, Santa Barbara Tags Ampelos Cellars, Viognier
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Ampelos Cellars

June 18, 2019
Ampelos Syrache.jpg

Young blackberry, stemmy bramble, crunchy raspberry. Fresh cranberry, ground peppercorn, muddled red cherry…

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In Wine, Santa Barbara Tags Syrah, Grenache, Syrache, Ampelos Cellars
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Wild blackberry, worn leather, dark cherry pit. Red delicious apple, wild herbs, black licorice. A marvelously complex and concentrated eruption of blueberry, fig, and dark plum booms with dense yet delightfully juicy intensity as complicating impres
Tart blackberry, sage brush, wild cherry. Ripe strawberry, fresh wildflowers, crushed cranberry. A excitingly juicy and expressive fruit core packed with black currant, raspberry, and pluot writhes with tense and youthful exuberance while pronounced
Poached yellow apple, blooming jasmine, ripe mango. Peach cobbler, struck match, warm grapefruit. An irresistibly pure and succulent parade of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and brûléed pear playfully prances with incredible energy and expressi
Plush dark cherry, ground coriander, rhubarb purée. Juicy blueberry, forest floor, cranberry preserves. An intriguingly lifted and layered display brimming with tart blackberry, strawberry, and orange zest booms with incredibly high toned and
White raspberry, crushed rocks, grapefruit zest. Rainier cherry, rose water, mirabelle plum. Strikingly dainty and delicate waves of red pear, lemon, and nectarine lead a pure and wonderfully pretty attack that comes across as tart and crisp while al
Wild blackberry, worn leather, dark cherry pit. Red delicious apple, wild herbs, black licorice. A marvelously complex and concentrated eruption of blueberry, fig, and dark plum booms with dense yet delightfully juicy intensity as complicating impres Tart blackberry, sage brush, wild cherry. Ripe strawberry, fresh wildflowers, crushed cranberry. A excitingly juicy and expressive fruit core packed with black currant, raspberry, and pluot writhes with tense and youthful exuberance while pronounced Poached yellow apple, blooming jasmine, ripe mango. Peach cobbler, struck match, warm grapefruit. An irresistibly pure and succulent parade of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and brûléed pear playfully prances with incredible energy and expressi Plush dark cherry, ground coriander, rhubarb purée. Juicy blueberry, forest floor, cranberry preserves. An intriguingly lifted and layered display brimming with tart blackberry, strawberry, and orange zest booms with incredibly high toned and White raspberry, crushed rocks, grapefruit zest. Rainier cherry, rose water, mirabelle plum. Strikingly dainty and delicate waves of red pear, lemon, and nectarine lead a pure and wonderfully pretty attack that comes across as tart and crisp while al