IT’S FESTIVAL TIME!
PLUS NEW PINOT NOIR & CHARDONNAY FROM SANTA MARIA VALLEY
All of us in Santa Barbara County invite you to the annual Santa Barbara Vintners’ Festival, the flagship event of our region now in its 32nd year! Tickets are still available for the Vintners’ Festival Grand Tasting this Saturday, April 12. I will be there, along with many of my fellow winemakers, to pour our wines and enjoy this fantastic event. There are loads of activities, events and seminars taking place all weekend long (April 10-13), including our winemaker dinner at Industrial Eats in Buellton this Thursday evening, so I highly encourage you check out all the festivities at the Santa Barbara Vintners website. Of course, our new tasting room will be open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 to 4:30.
To celebrate the Vintners Spring Weekend, Deb and I are pleased to release two outstanding wines from the Santa Maria Valley. The 2012 Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir has dramatic fruit forward character and lush structure. It will pair beautifully with spring lamb, but I also recommend trying it with Asian cuisine. Our new 2012 Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay is the quintessential wine for spring—crisp and bright with lively acidity and fresh flavors. The grapes are from Dierberg and Sierra Madre, two of Santa Maria Valley’s finest Chardonnay vineyards.
Hope to see you this weekend! And don’t forget to reserve your spot for our exciting comparative tastings on May 3 or 4 at the Ken Brown Tasting Room (details below).
Cheers!
NEW RELEASES
The historic Nielson Vineyard is planted on a gentle slope in high density spacing. The cool microclimate and lean soils promote small berries and rich concentration along with a beautiful fruit forward character and lush structure. Indeed, this wine is intensely aromatic and complex with bright aromas of lush cherry pie, accented by hints of black raspberry, pomegranate and freshly grated nutmeg. The wine’s soft tannins and rich, velvety structure are beautifully balanced by the right touch of natural acidity—assurance that this Pinot Noir will age gracefully for years to come. Only 147 cases made. Limited magnums available. Click here for more information or to purchase.
Originating from two outstanding Santa Maria Valley vineyards—65% from Dierberg and 35% from Sierra Madre—this Chardonnay was stainless steel fermented and aged for 6 months in French oak. The wine is crisp and bright with vibrant aromas of ripe pear, white peach and tropical fruit with hints of vanilla, citrus and fresh cream. On the palate, luscious apple flavors and undertones of tropical fruit are supported by a smooth texture that is nicely balanced by a refreshing sparkle of natural acidity. The wine culminates in a pleasing finish with a touch of lemon zest and French oak. Only 98 cases made. Click here for more information or to purchase.
VINTAGE CHECK
 2014 is tracking to be one of the earliest harvests ever. Mild winter temperatures as well as some warm early spring days have set the growing season in motion about four weeks earlier than normal. The vines are undergoing the delicate flowering stage now, and the favorable weather we’re experiencing this week bodes well for a good cluster set. Early estimates of yields look to be average size, but because of the shortage of rainfall, we anticipate very small berries, excellent for concentration and flavor development.
UPCOMING EVENTS
This Weekend April 10-13!
Enjoy a sparkling wine reception with Clos Pepe followed by a wonderful pairing of Sta. Rita Hills AVA wines with creative and incredibly delicious food prepared by the celebrated team of Jeff and Janet Olsson at Industrial Eats, the newest restaurant in the Santa Ynez Valley. Winemakers from multiple Sta. Rita Hills wineries will be on hand to discuss their wines and the pairings. Presenters include Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe Wines, Laura Roach of Sanford Winery, Ken Brown of Ken Brown Wines, and Jeff Connick of Dierberg Estate Vineyards. Reserve your space now!
SPECIAL FOCUS WEEKEND
Saturday, May 3 and Sunday May 4
11:00 am and 2:00 pm
Ken Brown Wines Tasting Room
Vive la difference! Come experience the diversity of Santa Barbara County at this comparative tasting and discussion. Focusing on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, Ken will choose a pair of each varietal from different regions of the county and explore how the differences in climate, soil, etc. make each region unique and each wine distinct.
$20 per person/$10 for wine club members. Reserve your spot by calling 805-688-9400 or email jc@kenbrownwines.com. Space is limited to 20 guests per session. 3-day cancellation policy; after Wed. April 30, reservations are non-refundable. Space is limited to 20 guests per session.
Click here for our complete Winery Calendar of Events
JOIN KEN’S PRIORITY WINE CLUB
Join now and receive 4 shipments per year at a 20% discount.
Re-orders and wine purchases in our tasting room are discounted at 15%, excluding large format bottles.
Next shipment is in May!
JOIN TODAY!
KEN BROWN TASTING ROOM
is open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm and by appointment on Mondays
157 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, CA 93427
Tasting Room Phone 805.688.9400
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