We call this wine “Margarita juice.”
Zesty grapefruit and tropical notes dominate the nose, with a hint of hay. The palate is round and quenching with citrus, guava and melon flavors that finish long.
Pour yourself a glass, go sit in the sun, put your headphones in, turn on ‘California’ by the Lagoons and check out.
In Stock At our temperature controlled facility in Costa Mesa, CA
Rooted in the hills of Santa Barbara County, Storm Wines emphasizes old world influences and new world techniques. The Mediterranean climate, diverse soils, and exciting new opportunities in this budding Central Coast wine region have combined to drive Ernst’s passion for producing his wine. You’re invited to experience the unique personality of both vintage and site in Storm Wines. Our wines are truly handcrafted using a combination of Old and New World winemaking techniques. They express the unique qualities our fruit embodies due to its local environment.
South African winemaker Ernst Storm first came to Santa Barbara in 2003 after finishing his studies at Elsenburg Agricultural School in the Western Cape. He didn’t know anyone or much about the area, but he wanted to experience a harvest somewhere new and climatically similar to the Western Cape. “I wanted to work in an area where I was able to make more classically-styled wines. I set out from the beginning to try and establish a philosophy around a certain style and Santa Barbara offered that.” Classically-styled wines tend to be grown in cooler climates and are fresher, lower in alcohol and capture where they are from.
Storm produces about 2,000 cases annually, focusing on classically-styled wines from sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and syrah. I asked Ernst why he focuses on small production and his answer was simple. “I am able to do most of the winemaking myself. Which I feel you can’t do anymore once you reach a certain size.” He expanded, telling me that “…if you keep it small, you can treat every wine you make, like it’s the only wine.” This mentality and dedication to craft is one of the reasons we started Argaux in the first place, and it’s one of the reasons we’ve enjoyed working with Ernst since the beginning.
Get to know our winemakers, why we love them, and why it is more important than ever to support them.
Sauvignon Blanc, a very recognizable white wine that is popularly dry, refreshingly zesty, and has strong, fruity and herbal characteristics. Ever hear of the term “pyrazines?” It’s a term noting the strong herbaceous flavors that are derived from compounds called Methoxypyrazines. These compounds are also found in bell peppers!
A flagship varietal to the Loire Valley in France (Sancerre) and New Zealand, the Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand tend to be more aromatic and have tropical fruit notes than those from the Bordeaux or Loire Valley regions in France. Usually fermented in stainless steel vats, Sauvignon Blanc gives a clean, crisp flavor with occasional mineral notes, but no characteristics from oak, like you would normally see in a grape varietal like Chardonnay. However, look out for Fumé Blanc, this style of wine is an oaked-version of Sauvignon Blanc.
Dating back sum 240 years ago, California wine started in San Diego at the Mission de Alcalá, the first Franciscan mission in The Californias. After the gold rush in 1849, wineries then began to populate in Northern California around Sonoma and Napa Valley and the industry took off. Things slowed down during prohibition, of course, but after winning in both the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon categories during The Judgement of Paris in 1976, California (particularly Napa Valley) was back on the map. California now makes up for 80% of wine made in the U.S.
California, famous for its fruit-forward, audacious wines that focus grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. California is characterized by a mediterranean climate, making this region ideal for full-bodies red wines. That being said, many areas closer to the Pacific Ocean benefit from cooling winds and layers of fog that are beneficial for grapes including Pinot Noir and many white wines.
| Weight | 2 lbs |
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Subtotal: $30