Chardonnay & Oak Aging
This dry white wine, made from the Chardonnay grape, is the most popular of its variety. Chardonnay ranges in style, with some oakier versions contributing to taste. The purpose of Chardonnay aged in oak is to add some of the oaks characters, along with helping the wine develop its texture. Winemakers may lightly toast the inner surface of barrels, allowing the smoky oak or toasty characters to be detected in the final product. Oak gives the taste a dimension of spiciness and adds a hint of vanilla or coconut to the grapes aroma. The oak and Chardonnay combination is a favorite that is sure to last!
Wine Tasting - The Sense of Smell
There are a few very important things to note when we "nose" a wine. It is suggested to first smell the wine before swirling, noticing the delicate aromas. Next, swirl the wine and smell again after it is at rest. Depending on the bouquet, you may then notice a profound difference in the odors emerging. Aroma is a smell that originates from the actual grape, with very clear cut characteristics. Aroma is most prevalent in young wines. The bouquet of a wine refers to smells generated as a result of aging; smells found particularly in mature wines that were aged in a bottle. The bouquet generally has much softer and complex characteristics than aromas. Identifying what you smell is usually the most challenging part in wine tasting. Although there are many smell categories used to describe characteristics of wine, none have been exclusively agreed upon.
Wine Tasting - The Sense of Taste
After observing your wine using the sense of sight and smell, it is then time to use your palate to identify tastes. This is far more detailed than simply tasting as we would any other beverage. We must remember to note the characteristics of the wine on all sensory areas of the tongue. Sweetness is detected on the very tip of the tongue, while bitter tastes are sensed in the extreme rear. Saltiness is sensed on the front, upper sides of the tongue, and the acidity-sour taste is sensed mainly on the sides. Some suggest focusing your attention on one sensation at a time in order to be more efficient in your taste. Try taking a sip of wine and swallowing immediately. Then try another sip, this time letting the wine work well around the palate into these sensory areas before swallowing. You will recognize a noticeable difference in the intensity of flavors!
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Santa Barbara Winery List
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Addamo Estate Vineyards
Alexander and Wayne
Andrew Murray Vineyards
Andrew Murray Vineyards-Tasting Room
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Arthur Earl-Tasting Room
Artiste Winery & Tasting Studio
Au Bon Climat
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Babcock Winery & Vineyards
Beckmen Vineyards
Bedford Thompson-Tasting Room
Blackjack Ranch Winery
Brander Vineyard, The
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Brewer-Clifton Winery
Bridlewood Estate Winery
Brophy-Clark Cellars-Tasting Room
Buttonwood Farm Winery
Byron Vineyard and Winery
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Cambria Winery & Vineyard
Carhartt Vineyard-Tasting Room
Carina Cellars
Carr Vineyards & Winery
Casa Cassara Winery-Tasting Room (Opening July 2007)
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Cold Heaven Cellars
Consilience
Costa De Oro-Tasting Room
Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery
Curtis Winery
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Daniel Gehrs Wines-Tasting Room
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Domaine Santa Barbara
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East Valley Vineyard
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Epiphany Cellars
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Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard
Fiddlehead Cellars-Tasting Room
Firestone Vineyard
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Flying Goat Cellars
Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery
Foxen Winery & Vineyard
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Gainey Vineyard
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Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Winery
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Huber Cellars
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J. Kerr Wines-Tasting Room
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Jaffurs Wine Cellars
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Kenneth Volk Vineyards
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Koehler Winery
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Lafond Winery & Vineyard
Lane Tanner
LinCourt Vineyards
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Lions Peak Vineyards
Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
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McKeon-Phillips Winery
Melville Vineyards and Winery
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Morovino
Mosby Winery
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Paige 23
Palmina
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Presidio Winery - Tasting Room
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Qupé Wine Cellars -Tasting Room
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Rancho Sisquoc Winery
Richard Longoria Wines
Rideau Vineyards
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Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
Rusack Vineyards
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Sanford Winery
Santa Barbara Winery
Santa Ynez Winery
Shoestring Winery
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Stearns Wharf Vintners-Tasting Room
Stolpman Vineyards
Summerland Winery
Sunstone Vineyards & Winery
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Tres Hermanas
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Vandale Vineyards
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Vineyards at Royal Oak (The)
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Whitcraft Winery -Tasting Room
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Zaca Mesa Winery
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