2019 Liquid Farm Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir

Liquid Farm, the name, sums up the guiding philosophy of its founders, Jeff Nelson and Nikki Pallesen. When they started their Santa Ynez winery in 2009 their goal was “to create awareness about what happens above the ground and below the ground, and tell the story of how both are inextricably linked to wine. Wine…..is Liquid from Farming.” Nelson was a wine industry veteran having worked for Champagne and Burgundy houses, and Pallesen had worked for California wine distributor and as a wine retailer. As wine lovers who preferred lower alcohol, terroir-driven wines, they gravitated toward European wines. The pair also shared a passion for Chardonnay. So in 2009 they sourced Chardonnay grapes from Santa Rita Hills vineyards and made their first barrels. The Santa Rita Hills appellations is one of California’s coolest, which appealed to Nelson and Pallesen. With winemaker James Sparks they have concentrated on Chardonnay as well as rosé. Reviewers have rated the wines in the low to mid-90s.

Santa Rita Hills AVA in northern Santa Barbara County was granted appellation status in 2001. Located between the towns of Lompoc and Buellton, it has a total area of 30,720 acres with 2,700 vineyard acres. The area is considered a cool climate for vineyards, so vineyards are most often planted with the cool-weather grapes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The hills in the western part of this appellation are directly exposed to the Pacific Ocean, meaning that maritime winds and fog make the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills AVA particularly cool. The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard planted in 1971 was the first vineyard in the district and is still considered one of the best.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.