Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2015 | Santa Barbara Legend Richard Sanford’s Case-Buy

Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2015 presents a pale ruby hue with a magenta rim. Woodsy nose with hints of wild mushroom and bone broth. While the palate is more high toned with pomegranate, strawberry, and more mushroom notes.  In addition, zest and spice mingle on the mouthwatering finish. So, now with a few years of bottle age, this Pinot is hitting full stride at a savvy pickup price. Quality deems a case purchase. Enjoy now through 2022.

More Red Gems under $35

Richard Sanford’s love affair with Pinot Noir began at a La Jolla steakhouse called Bully’s.  So there a glass of Volnay changed everything.   “I had never tasted anything quite like it,” says Sanford, a Vintners Hall of Fame inductee.  It was the texture of the wine that remains with me.   Notably, it had this unbeatable purity and elegance reminding of the Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2015.

“The Rosa” | 600 acres of Sta. Rita Hills rich history

Alma Rosa founder Richard Sanford named the winery after the 1839 Rancho Santa Rosa land grant that historically encompassed our region of Santa Barbara County.  Situated on the northern slopes of the Santa Rosa Hills, the Alma Rosa Ranch is 600 acres of natural grasslands and woodlands that stretch from the valley floor to the top of the range with forty-four acres under vine.

Shop Today’s Finds at Wine Access

Winegrowing took off in the Santa Ynez Valley in the 1970s.  As a result, the Santa Ynez Valley AVA was established in 1983.  Moving from the furthest western end of the valley to the east, temperatures rise 1 degree each mile, allowing for a range of varietals to grow.  Burgundian and Alsatian varietals thrive in the cooler west, while Bordeaux varieties grow well in the warmer eastern interior.  Recognizing the significance of these climatic differences, Sanford and a group of growers in the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley were able to establish the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.  And here, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay dominate the vineyardscape—in 2001.

Winemaker Nick de Luca

Nick de Luca is a viticulturist with a strong commitment to sustainable vineyard and cellar practices. He has also held posts at Byington Vineyard & Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Williams Selyem Winery in Healdsburg, CA, Fisher Vineyards in Santa Rosa, CA, Highfield Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand, and Cline Cellars in Sonoma, CA. He became the Alma Rosa winemaker in 2014, after spending seven vintages as Director of Vineyards and Winemaking at Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley.