Ballard Canyon AVA, one California's newest AVA, is about to making a splash in the wine world with its Syrahs. In fact the Ballard Canyon Wine Growers Alliance (BCWGA) primary goal is to produce of top quality Syrahs. Based on the wines that I tasted at #WBC14 they are well on their way. Get ready to hear about Santa Barbara Wine Country (#sbcwine) Ballard Canyon AVA Syrahs.
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| Ballard Canyon © Spaswinefood |
You might ask what is so special about Ballard Canyon Syrahs. First, a little background on Syrah. Syrahs from the Northern Rhone have been known for their rich aromas and flavors. In recent years many warmer climatic regions have began to mass produce Syrahs. When you mass produce Syrah however, it commonly lacks the characteristics or wildness for which the grape is well known. The result is many Syrahs ended up being used in red blends. The increased production has not resulted in increased sales of Syrah in the international market. In fact, in recent years, the sale of Syrah has dropped dramatically. Chomiskey has written on the reasons for the demise of Syrah, and the need to focus on the production of quality Syrah. California's Ballard Canyon AVA has decided to focus its efforts on producing top quality Syrahs.
Ballard Canyon AVA boutique wineries plan to achieve this by engaging in small scale production of Syrah. These boutique wineries will then be able to produce Syrahs with richer aromas and flavors. This decision has come after, not only doing research on what grows best in the AVA but, it is the collective vision for the new Ballard Canyon AVA.
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| Ballard Canyon Road © Spaswinefood |
Tasting Ballard Canyon AVA Syrahs
The session on Ballard Canyon Syrahs was a great eye opener for me. This session was the best wine education session at the conference. We were introduced to each of the Ballard Canyon AVA Syrahs by a panel member.
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| Tasting Ballard Canyon AVA Syrahs © Spaswinefood |
The panel included representatives from eight wineries from the Ballard Canyon AVA. Patrick Chomiskey, Wine & Spirit was the moderator for the session.
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| #WBC14 Panel at Ballard Canyon Syrah Session © Spaswinefood |
Kimsey Vineyard: The tasting began with a Kimsey Vineyard Syrah 2012.
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| Kimsey Vineyard Syrah 2012 © Spaswinefood |
In this case Ruben Solorzano introduced the Kimsey Vineyard Syrah.
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| Ruben Solorzano (2nd from left), Ballard Canyon AVA © Spaswinefood |
Beckmen Vineyards: Beckman Vineyards La Purisima Mountain Syarh 2012 was introduced by Steve Beckman (2nd from right in above photo).
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| Beckman Vineyards La Purisima Mountain Syrah 2012 © Spaswinefood |
Stolpman Vineyards: The next Syrah, a Stolpman Vineyards Originals Syrah 2012 was introduced by Peter Stolpman, President Ballard Canyon AVA.
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| Stolpman Vineyards Originals Syrah 2012 © Spaswinefood |
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| Stolpman Vineyards, Ballard Canyon AVA © Spaswinefood |
Rusack Vineyards: The Rusack Vineyards Syrah Reserve 2012 was introduced by Steve Gerbac.
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| Rusack Vineyards, Ballard Canyon © Spaswinefood |
Jonata Wines: Then a Jonata Wines Sangre de Jonata Syrah Syrah 2010 was introduced by Matt Dees.
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| Jonata Wines Sangre de Jonata Syrah 2010 © Spaswinefood |
Harrison Clarke: Hilarie Clarke, the female winemaker on the panel shared a Harrison Clarke Cuvee Charolotte Syrah 2010.
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| Hilarie Clarke (2nd from right), Ballard Canyon Panel © Spaswinefood |
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| Michael Larner (2nd from left), Ballard Canyon Panel © Spaswinefood |
Saarloos and Sons: Keith Saarloos (first on the right) of Saarloos and Sons shared closing remarks for the session. We did not get to taste a Ballard Canyon AVA Syrah from Saarloos and Son since it had sold out.
After tasting Ballard Canyon Syrahs I can honestly say they were best overall Santa Barbara Country wines that I tasted during #WBC14. Rjonwine has written about his visit to the Ballard Canyon AVA. For other impressions of this session see SóloSyrah and Rebecca Gomez Farrell. Yes, everyone will have rationale for their favorite Syrah. I particularly like Peter Stolpman, Stolpman Vineyards comment on Syrah style:
"Stylistic variations
present themselves based on different soil types, elevations, harvest dates,
and winemaking methods. Regardless of the specific vineyard within
Ballard Canyon, all of the Syrahs show a high-toned fresh fruit profile
compared to the warmer climates of Paso Robles or Napa Valley. On the
flipside, Ballard Canyon Syrahs possess more weight and lushness than wines
from the Northern Rhone. In this sense, Ballard Canyon lies balanced in
the center of the world-wide Syrah continuum."
Patrick Chomisky's recent SFGate article describes the Ballard Canyon AVA and comments on top sites within the AVA:
"Ballard Canyon is the very definition of Syrah country, possessing more than a dozen top vineyards with that grape. Its best-known sites, Larner, Stolpman, Beckmen and Jonata, represent a quorum of American Syrah perhaps better than any other California wine region; if it was a baseball lineup, it’d be a murderers’ row."
The new Ballard Canyon Syrah
bottle was unveiled to attendees. Beginning this year, BCWGA members will bottle their estate grown Syrahs in a custom bottle with the words “BALLARD
CANYON” rotating around the shoulder, raised above the glass surface. The
producers hope that one day, this bottle will become synonymous with great
Syrah throughout the world of boutique wine. Only estate grown Syrahs from the AVA are eligible to use the new bottle.
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| Bottle to be used for Ballard Canyon AVA Estate Syrah © Spaswinefood |
After tasting Ballard Canyon AVA Syrahs at #WBC14 when the conference was over I just had to drive down Ballard Canyon Road. As I drove down the canyon the golden hills became dotted with vineyards.
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The Golden Hills of Ballard Canyon © Spaswinefood
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Vineyard in Ballard Canyon © Spaswinefood
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I would especially like to thank the organizers of Wine Bloggers Conference #WBC14 for a great session on Ballard Canyon AVA Syrahs. Syrahs from the Ballard Canyon AVA are definitely on my Syrah watch list. Santa Barbara Wine County will make a splash in the wine world with these quality Syrahs. You can also check out Santa Barbara County travel information on things to do and see in the area. I invite you to join me in my travels in Santa Barbara Wine Country and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood.
Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara Wine County
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