Region: Santa Marie Valley, California

Vintage: 2015

Composition: 100% Pinot Noir

History: Nielson Wines pays tribute to its namesake, Uriel J. Nielson, who in 1964 planted the first commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County, a region previously considered too cold to grow grapes. Uriel, known as a viticulture pioneer, ignored warnings from neighboring farmers and was undeterred in his stance that Santa Barbara County could be one of the world’s leading wine regions. Today, five decades later, there are more than 100 wineries and thousands of acres dedicated to vineyards, producing wines recognized by critics worldwide for their incredible quality, uniqueness, and compelling balance of flavor.

Tasting Notes:

The Nielson Vineyard’s location at the warmer, eastern end of the Santa Maria Valley accounts for the wine’s dark color and ripe flavor profile. Prior to fermentation, the Pinot Noir clusters were 100% de-stemmed to accentuate the naturally rich and smooth texture of our estate grown fruit. The wine shows aromas of blackberries, rose petals, dried herbs, and earth. Flavors are driven by a dark fruit core, complemented by sandalwood, black pepper, and crushed stone.