MONTEMAR WINERY
Steve and Caryn believe that great wine is made in the vineyard, so a significant amount of energy is focused there. Montemar sources all its fruit from top vineyards in Santa Barbara County by leasing specific blocks and controlling all aspects of farming. They have been doing this for quite some time and some of the vineyard blocks have been under their control for over 15 years. As a vineyard driven winery, the winemaking process is very meticulous but does not vary widely within varietal so the distinctiveness of each wine is attributable to the vineyard source and year. Montemar currently produces 1400 cases/year, averaging less than 100 cases per lot with many small-lot bottlings available exclusively to their wine club members.
Montemar produces a wide range of varietals including the following:
Pinot Noir – Sourced from vineyards including Bentrock, Radian, Rancho la Vina, La Encantada, Rita’s Crown and Hillard Bruce. Each lot is aged separately with most of the wines going into vineyard designated wines except for a Sta Rita Hills bottling that is a blend of several vineyards that changes each vintage.
Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre – Sourced from Thompson, Watch Hill, McGinley and Zotovich. Each lot is made and aged separately and at bottling we make vineyard designated Syrah’s as well as several Rhone blends.
Sangiovese – Sourced from Stolpman vineyard. Producing a regular Sangiovese in neutral French oak as well as an extended barrel aged Sangiovese which sees 3+ years in the barrel. We love Tuscan wines and make a super Tuscan that we call the “Santa Barbarian” The 2015 is a beautiful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Sangiovese.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Merlot – Sources for Super Tuscan Wine.
Chardonnay from Rita’s Crown Vineyard – highest vineyard in Sta Rita Hills, Sauvignon Blanc from Vogelzang Vineyard , highly sought after spot in Happy Canyon and Grenache Blanc from Tierra Alta Vineyard, a great Rhone focused vineyard in Ballard Canyon where many great Grenache Blanc originate.
