2022 Andremily Slide Hill Vineyard Albarino

Andremily Winery is a new venture by Jim Binn, a former cellar master at Sine Qua Non. Binn established his Santa Barbara area winery in 2011 and named it for his two children, Andrew and Emily. Binn leases specific acreage within the prestigious White Hawk and Larner Vineyards in Santa Barbara County, and had his first harvest in 2012. Only 250 cases of Syrah were made and it was available primarily through mailing list. Binn focuses on Rhone varietals and has earned a reputation for his winemaking skills, having honed his skills working for Manfred Krankl, the rock star-style proprietor/winemaker at SQN, starting in 1996.

Edna Valley AVA is within San Luis Obispo County, and within the large Central Coast AVA. Edna Valley became an AVA in 1982 and it includes 22,400 acres of extremely fertile land blessed with a long growing season. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the principal grapes, though Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albarino, Grenache, Viognier, Merlot and Petite Sirah also are grown. Spanish missionaries were growing grape vines in the Edna Valley in the 18th century, but the valley’s modern wine industry took off in the 1970s. Today there are more than 50 Edna Valley wineries.

On the Iberian peninsula, one grape belongs to two different countries and is called by two different names: Albarino in Spain, Alvarhino in Portugal. Either way, it makes an underrated white wine that is akin to Riesling and fabulous with seafood and shellfish.