2011 Margerum M5

Margerum Wine Company was founded in 2001 by Doug Margerum, a long-time Santa Barbara area vintner, winemaker, restaurateur, sommelier and promoter of Santa Barbara wines. Having grown up in a family of restaurateurs, he was a winemaker and sometimes also an owner at several Santa Barbara region wineries before starting Margerum. The estate today has 18 acres of vineyards planted to Rhone varietals. It also purchases grapes from other area vineyards. Margerum produces mainly single-vineyard Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, white blends and rosé. The estate also produces wines under the Barden label. Barden wines are made from cold climate grapes grown in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation.

Santa Ynez Valley AVA is home to more wineries than any other area in Santa Barbara County. The appellation was established in 1983 and it includes a total of 76,800 acres, of which 1,500 acres are vineyards. Chardonnay is the dominant grape in this appellation, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. The appellation runs east and west with temperatures and microclimates changing significantly from warmer in the east to cool by the time the district gets close to the Pacific Ocean. In recent years Rhone-style wines have been successfully made here, and vineyards now are also planted to Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache, Mourvedre and Marsanne.