N E W S L E T T E R A R T I S T R Y I N W I N E M A K I N G S I N C E 1 9 8 2 FEBRUARY 2019 A Note from Rick My assistant, Joe Tremblay, and I began the New Year with a busy schedule of bottling eight new releases, one of which is included in this, the first Wine Club shipment of the year. From the 2018 vintage, you re receiving our Santa Ynez Valley Pinot Grigio. I describe the 2018 growing season and harvest as the most historically normal since 2011. I write more about this classic vintage in my notes on the Pinot Grigio. Also included in your shipment is the 2017 Lovely Rita Pinot Noir. It is composed of wine from our estate vineyard, Fe Ciega and for the first time, a neighboring Sta. Rita Hills vineyard, La Rinconada. The wine is a bit more robust than some previous vintages of Lovely Rita. Finally, you will receive the 2016 Santa Barbara County Syrah. The wine is a blend of our two vineyard sources, Alisos and Clover Creek. The grapes from both vineyards were harvested with higher sugar contents than has been my practice. The result is a rich, almost decadent but beautifully balanced Syrah. Only 80 cases were produced, so I advise not waiting too long to order additional bottles for cellaring. I m very pleased with the exceptional quality of these three new wines, as well as the other wines we plan to release to you this year. Diana and I, as well as the Longoria Tasting Room Team, Sherrill, Christina and Samantha, look forward to seeing you at our Wine Club events and whenever you re able to visit us throughout the year. Cheers, Rick Longoria, Winemaker
L O N G O R I A N E W S L E T T E R These three wines are the new releases for February. The wines included in your shipment vary according to your Wine Club selection. The cost for each shipment includes the price of the wine, less your Wine Club discount, plus packaging, shipping and appropriate sales tax, when applicable. THE 2018 VINTAGE Texperienced one of the mildest Tand most even weather patterns in recent memory. This temperate harvest allowed me to pick the Pinot Grigio at Clover Creek Vineyard at the exact moment of my choosing, which was September 11 th at 22.1 Brix. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and settled in a tank for 24 hours. The juice was then racked to another stainless steel tank where it underwent an 18-day fermentation. The wine was then racked to stainless steel barrels to age before being bottled in January 2019. The wine has the typical pale, straw color of this varietal. The predominant aromas are of fresh, crisp pears with warm notes of cinnamon and nutmeg in the background. As expected, the wine is light to medium bodied on the palate, but the texture is surprisingly rich with flavors of pear compote and brown spices. The lingering finish is long and expansive. This wine can be enjoyed as a warm weather aperitif and pairs beautifully with cheeses such as Gruyère and buffalo mozzarella. It can also accompany lighter fare such as a Caesar salad with grilled shrimp or spaghetti carbonara. Winemaker's Notes T THE 2017 GROWING season s mild weather gave the grapes enough time on the vine to reach optimal ripeness. Harvest began on September 4 th and ended on September 8 th at an average sugar content of 24.5 Brix. The grapes were 100% destemmed and crushed into small, open top fermenters. The must was cold soaked for an average of three days, after which the must was inoculated with special yeast strains chosen for Pinot Noir. After an average fermentation period of 12 days, the wine was pressed off to tanks, settled and then transferred to French oak barrels for aging, of which 26% were new. After 11 months of barrel aging, the wine was blended, filtered and bottled in August 2018. The wine has a medium, dark ruby color with luscious, dark fruit aromas of ripe plums, figs and cherries with hints of tobacco. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with harmonious flavors of the fruits found in the aromas. The wine has moderate tannins that in combination with the acidity give the wine a long, succulent finish. Enjoy this wine with a variety of foods including salmon, pork and Mediterranean dishes. COMPOSITION: 100% Pinot Grigio VINEYARD SOURCE: Clover Creek PRODUCTION: 207 cases ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 13.8% PH: 3.27 TITRATABLE ACIDITY: 0.48 g/100ml CELLARING POTENTIAL: 1 to 2 years BOTTLE PRICE: $22.00 COMPOSITION: 100% Pinot Noir VINEYARD SOURCES: 78% Fe Ciega, 22% La Rinconada PRODUCTION: 342 cases ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 13.9% PH: 3.53 TITRATABLE ACIDITY: 0.60 g/100ml CELLARING POTENTIAL: 4 to 6 years BOTTLE PRICE: $35.00
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 Reorder the wines in this shipment within 30 days and get an extra 5% discount. Order online today at shop.longoriawine.com, email info@longoriawine.com or phone 866-759-4637 Winemaker's Notes (cont.) FOR OVER 10 YEARS OUR Fwinery donated a blend of our FSyrah to People Helping People s Fannual charity event, Vino de Sueños. The wine was so well received that I was inspired to create this for our wine club and tasting room customers. This special bottling blends grapes from our two long-standing sites for Syrah: Clover Creek Vineyard in Santa Ynez and Alisos Vineyard located just east of Los Alamos. The 2016 vintage experienced warmer than normal temperatures. This resulted in both vineyards being harvested on September 29 th at riper than normal sugar levels. The grapes from each vineyard were 100% destemmed and crushed into small open top fermenters. After a four-day cold soak period, the musts were inoculated with yeast. Fermentation lasted for 13 days, at which time the wines were pressed off, settled in tanks and then transferred to French oak barrels to begin aging. The combined lots were aged in 30% new French oak barrels for 22 months before being blended, filtered and bottled in August 2018. The wine has a very dark ruby color. The aromas are of ripe figs, currants and dried fruits with a hint of anise in the background. On the palate the wine is full-bodied with a viscous texture and rich, expansive flavors similar to those of the aromas. The moderate tannins and hint of French oak give the wine an appealing and satisfying finish. This is a rich wine that will pair well with pork roasts and wild game such as venison. COMPOSITION: Syrah - Clover Creek Vyd. (55%) Syrah - AlisosVyd. (40%) Grenache - Camp 4 Vyd. (5%) PRODUCTION: 80 cases ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 15.3% PH: 3.62 TITRATABLE ACIDITY: 0.67 g/100ml CELLARING POTENTIAL: 4 to 6 years BOTTLE PRICE: $35.00 Upcoming Events NEW RELEASES PARTY Saturday, February 9 th, 2019, Noon - 3:00 p.m. Longoria Winery Tasting Room 415 E. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436 Join us for the debut of our February releases. In addition to our tasting flight of 5 wines for $15.00, 3 Flies on a Knife will offer gourmet grilled cheese on their homemade bread, with a salad, for $10. (Loaves of bread will also be available for purchase.) Kick back in our tasting room lounge as Guitarist Greg LeRoy provides the soundtrack for this afternoon of fun, wine, and food. Open to the public. Tasting Fee is $15. This event is complimentary for 4 people per Wine Club membership. WORLD OF PINOT NOIR GRAND TASTING Saturday, March 2 nd, 2019, 2:30-6:00 p.m. Ritz-Carlton Bacara 8301 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93117 Rick Longoria will take his place among the ranks of world class Pinot Noir producers to present the latest release of Longoria Pinot Noir, Fe Ciega Vineyard at Saturday s Grand Tasting. Tickets and more information: https://www.worldofpinotnoir.com/tickets/ DEBBY FULLER ART EXHIBIT April 2019 Longoria Winery Tasting Room 415 E. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436 Local photographer Debby Fuller says of her images, I love geometric shapes, bright color, texture and the essence of light. I ve looked through the camera lens for many years and I still feel excited about what I see. Debby s photos will be on display in the Longoria Tasting Room Gallery this spring. SAVE THE DATE: Longoria Winery Spring Open House Saturday, April 6 th, 2019 Wine Club Members Appreciation Day Saturday, July 20 th, 2019 GTO Members Luncheon Sunday, July 21 st, 2019 DON T MISS OUT! If you would like to receive the two additional Grand Tastevin Order shipments and have not already signed up, please email info@longoriawine. com or phone 866-759-4637. You must be a Wine Club Member to sign up for the Grand Tastevin Order. Grand Tastevin members receive their wine 30 days prior to it being released to the public.
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 Featured Recipe GRILLED STEAK WITH RED WINE SAUCE To pair with 2016 SYRAH, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY by Christina Meraz, Longoria Tasting Room Manager Serves 2 people Ingredients 2 NEW YORK STEAKS (Ribeye steaks are great, too!) 1 HEAD OF GARLIC 2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER ¼ CUP CHOPPED SCALLIONS OLIVE OIL SALT & FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER 1 CUP OF RED WINE (I like to use the wine I m drinking, in this case the 2016 Longoria Syrah)
Method Preheat oven to 400 degrees Cut the the top of the garlic head off and cut garlic head in half. Make sure all the garlic cloves have a portion exposed. Place garlic in foil and drizzle about 2 teaspoons of olive oil on garlic. Wrap the garlic head in the foil and place in the oven to roast. Roast until soft. This may take up to 45 minutes. Season steaks with salt and a nice amount of freshly ground pepper (according to your preference). Chop scallions. Place steaks in a hot skillet over medium-high heat. Brown each side; once both sides are nicely browned, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook steaks to your preference. Remove roasted garlic from the oven and squeeze garlic cloves out of the skin (be careful they may be hot). Place roasted garlic cloves in a small bowl and mash with a fork. Remove steaks from skillet, place on a plate and keep warm. Drain fat from skillet, then add 1 cup of red wine and the scallions. Over medium-low heat bring to a boil. Once boiling, add roasted garlic and blend garlic into sauce. Let that reduce by half to a thick consistency. Reduce heat to low and add 2 tablespoons of butter and mix well into the sauce. Then remove from heat. Once sauce is done, plate your meal and spread sauce over steaks. Pour a nice glass of the 2016 Syrah and enjoy a fabulous dinner! Since you are using one cup of Syrah in the recipe, you may want to have more than one bottle available!
Longoria Current and N ew Releases NEW RELEASES IN THIS SHIPMENT BOTTLE PRICE 15% DISCOUNT 20% DISCOUNT 2018 Pinot Grigio, Santa Ynez Valley $22.00 $18.70 $17.60 2017 Pinot Noir, Lovely Rita $35.00 $29.75 $28.00 2016 Syrah, Santa Barbara County $35.00 $29.75 $28.00 CURRENT RELEASES BOTTLE PRICE 15% DISCOUNT 20% DISCOUNT 2014 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Sparkling $65.00 $55.25 $52.00 2017 Albariño, Clover Creek Vineyard $25.00 $21.25 $20.00 2014 Chardonnay, Fe Ciega Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2015 Chardonnay, Fe Ciega Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2014 Chardonnay, Cuvée Diana $45.00 $38.25 $36.00 2015 Chardonnay, Cuvée Diana $45.00 $38.25 $36.00 2016 Chardonnay, Cuvée Diana $45.00 $38.25 $36.00 2014 Chardonnay, Rita s Crown Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2016 Pinot Noir, Lovely Rita $35.00 $29.75 $28.00 2015 Pinot Noir, Fe Ciega Vineyard $55.00 $46.75 $44.00 2016 Pinot Noir, Fe Ciega Vineyard $55.00 $46.75 $44.00 2016 Pinot Noir, Fe Ciega Block M $75.00 $63.75 $60.00 2014 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard Block N $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2015 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard Block N $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2016 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard Block N $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2015 Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2016 Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2014 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2015 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2016 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard $50.00 $42.50 $40.00 2014 Blues Cuvée, Santa Barbara County $30.00 $25.50 $24.00 2015 Blues Cuvée, Santa Barbara County $30.00 $25.50 $24.00 2016 Blues Cuvée, Santa Barbara County $30.00 $25.50 $24.00 2014 Cabernet Franc, Santa Barbara County $48.00 $40.80 $38.40 2016 Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez Valley $48.00 $40.80 $38.40 2014 Grenache, Santa Ynez Valley $30.00 $25.50 $24.00 Grenache, Santa Ynez Valley $30.00 $25.50 $24.00 2016 Grenache, Santa Barbara County $30.00 $25.50 $24.00 2015 Tempranillo, Santa Ynez Valley $36.00 $30.60 $28.80 2016 Tempranillo, Santa Ynez Valley $36.00 $30.60 $28.80 2014 Evidence, Bordeaux-Style Blend $45.00 $38.25 $36.00 2016 Evidence, Bordeaux-Style Blend $70.00 $59.50 $56.00 2013 Syrah Reserva, Alisos Vineyard $45.00 $38.25 $36.00 2012 Syrah, Vino Dulce, Port-Style Wine (375ml) $23.00 $19.55 $18.40 April: March: 2019 Tentative Sch edule of Releases WINE CLUB 2018 Albariño, Clover Creek Vineyard October: 2017 Chardonnay, Cuvée Diana 2017 Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard 2017 Pinot Noir, Fe Ciega Vineyard 2017 Grenache, Santa Barbara County 2017 Tempranillo, Santa Ynez Valley GRAND TASTEVIN ORDER 2018 Pink Wine, Cuvée June & Vivian November: 2017 Pinot Noir Supreme 2017 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vyd. 2017 Cabernet Franc, Santa Barbara Co. 2016 Merlot, Alisos Vineyard 2017 Evidence, Santa Barbara County 2011 Pinot Noir, Fe Ciega (Library Wine) 2013 Evidence (Library Wine) 2012 Syrah, Alisos Vineyard (Library Wine)