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Touring the Wine Country Byron Vineyard and Winery
Touring the Wine Country Byron Vineyard and Winery Byron Vineyard and Winery is located in scenic Tepusquet Canyon, an area northwest of Santa Barbara and about 12 miles northwest of Zaca Mesa Winery. It is an easy drive from Santa Barbara up Highway 101 passed County Road 154. Still on 101 just beyond County Road 154 you should see Zaca Station Road. Turn right onto Zaca Station Road headed north, pass Firestone Winery. Just as you pass Firestone Winery, the road becomes Foxen Canyon Road. Continue on Foxen Canyon Road passed Curtis Winery, and Fess Parker Winery. Just up the road is the Zaca Mesa Winery located near the foothills of the San Rafael Mountains. After visiting Zaca Mesa Winery, you should head back to Canyon Road take a right on to Canyon Road, continue north on Canyon Road passed Foxen Winery, continue to Tepusquet Road. Just beyond the fork of Tequsquet Road and Santa Maria Mesa Road on your right you should see Byron Vineyard and Winery. This is Santa Maria Valley appellation where the low latitude causes the grapes to bloom early and gently ripen giving the wine produced in this appellation a unique soil and climate fruit ripeness. The bright sun and mild winters contribute to early fruitset along with the cool maritime temperatures allowing the grape varietals grown to produce a rich ripe fruit wine. Here Ken Brown, Zaca Mesa's first winemaker, founded Byron Vineyard and Winery in 1984. Ken Brown a pioneering winemaker in Santa Barbara County recognized early on that the region's potential to produce great wines in the Burgundian style. Later on Ken introduced the Rhone-style grape varietals that has gained international attention. With great successes in the production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at the winery, Byron Vineyard and Winery and Ken Brown soon caught the attention of the Robert Mondavi family. In 1990, the Mondavi's purchased Byron Vineyard and Winery; and Ken Brown became Winemaker and General Manager, where Ken has continues the natural farming, experimental viticulture and gentle grape handling that Ken helped pioneer. At Byron Vineyard and Winery, Ken Brown and Tim Mondavi have worked together to eliminate sheared grape stems, skins and seeds from the wine making process. This pioneering process removes large amounts of tannins that can make the wine bitter. Ken designed a multi-level winery that allows gravity flow of the wine juices to flow naturally rather than pumping the grape juices. With the new gravity flow process, the wines produced are more complex and less tannic. Ken Brown continues experimenting with new innovations like trellising systems, new root stocks and clones, row orientation, and planting density at Byron Vineyard and Winery. Byron Vineyard and Winery is located where there are nutrient-poor sandy and sandy loam soils. This restrictive, low water-holding capacity site offers a classic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay soil profile which produces deep varietal character and intense aromas. Combined with the nutrient-poor sandy, loam soils and the longest growing season in the world, Byron Vineyard and Winery is able to achieve great success with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals. Byron Vineyard and Winery is part of the Byron Estate that is Santa Barbara County's oldest commercial vineyard and the largest experimental vineyards in California. Producing Old World traditional wines with modern technology, Byron Vineyard and Winery produces wine from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Byron Vineyard and Winery Vintage Chart
Pinot Noir
1999 *** Very late, small crop; dense flavors
1998 *** Late, ripe, low yields
1997 * / ** Best where heavily pruned
1996 ** Long & cool
1995 *** Small crop; exotic flavors
1994 * / ** Early rains; patience rewarded
1993 * Large crop, balanced
1992 * Wines developed quickly
1991 ** Near classic
1990 ** Some rain, ripe, dark, exotic
1989 ** Ripe, concentrated fruit Chardonnay
1999 *** Late, small crop. Intense flavors
1998 *** Long, cool. Light crop. Bright acidity
1997 * Large crop, fully mature
1996 *** Rich & balanced
1995 ** Small crop, intensely flavored
1994 * Rain, low sugar, some botrytis
1993 *** Large crop, early pruning key
1992 ** Very ripe, rich flavors
1991 ** Cool year with late harvest
1990 ** Good acidity for longevity
1989 *** Ripe, classic Santa Maria Valley
From http://www.byronwines.com/iw_vintage.asp "Wine Release Information
2003 Wine Releases
* January 2003; 2001 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, 2000 Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2001 Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay, 2000 Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay
* February 2003; 2000 Io
* March 2003; 2000 Monument Hill Pinot Noir, 2000 Nielson Historic Vineyard Chardonnay
2002 Wine Releases
* January 2002; 1999 Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2000 Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay, 1999 Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay
* February 2002; 1999 Io
* March 2002; 1999 Monument Hill Pinot Noir, 1999 Sierra Madre Vineyard Pinot Noir, 1999 Nielson Historic Vineyard Chardonnay
* April 2002; 1999 Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay
* August 2002; 1999 Monument Hill Pinot Noir
* November 2002; 2001 Pinot Blanc, 2001 Pinot Gris
* December 2002; 1999 Sierra Madre Vineyard Pinot Noir, 1999 Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay
2001 Wine Releases
* January 2001; 1998 Estate Pinot Noir, 1999 Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay
* February 2001; 1998 Io
* March 2001; 1998 Estate Chardonnay, 1998 Sierra Madre Vineyard Estate Chardonnay
* August 2001; 1998 Sierra Madre Vineyard Pinot Noir
* September 2001; 2000 Pinot Blanc
* November 2001; 1999 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, 2000 Pinot Gris
2000 Wine Releases"
From http://www.winerelease.com/WineryInfo/0000602.html Tasting Notes:
In my tasting notes I have only had Byron wines twice. I had the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from 1989. I found the Pinot Noir thin and not like the French Burgundies I so enjoy. The 1989 Chardonnay was much better with good citrus fruit and to me a green melon. The Chardonnay was a little heavy on the oak for me but all in all a full body and richness wine as to be expected in a California Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley appellation.
From jGibney Tasting Notes (Unpublished) Byron Vineyard and Winery
(Tepusquet Canyon)
Visitors by appointment
5250 Tepusquet Road, Santa Maria, CA
(805) 934-4770
www.ByronWines.com
info@byronwines.com Research From:
http://www.zacamesa.com/about_us.php
http://www.winerelease.com/WineryInfo/0000602.html
http://www.byronwines.com/
http://www.byronwines.com/iw_santa_maria.asp
http://www.wineloverspage.com/schaefer/byron06.phtml
jGibney Tasting Notes (Unpublished)
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