If you have even the slightest interest in wine, there is a pretty good chance you’ve seen the 2004 movieSideways, where actors Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church take a dysfunctional road trip to Santa Barbara, California, wine country.
Among many things, this movie became famous for disparaging merlot, and boosting the sales of pinot noir.
I visited the area just after the movie had won an Academy Award, not because of that, but because I just happened to be in Southern California and Santa Barbara was an easy drive. There were official Sideways tours and scores of wine lovers forging their own paths to wineries and restaurants featured in the movie.
Trying to avoid those groups (because at the time I was way too cool for that), my friend and I hit the well established and the hidden gems, with one of my faves being Jaffurs Wine Cellars. When we drove up I thought that this garage in the middle of the city CAN'T be the winery…but it was and it was awesome.
Established in 1994, Jaffurs was among the first to make syrah and Rhone-style winesin the area, according to winemaker Matt Brady. Brady, has been with Jaffurs for 11 years, promoted to winemaker last year, however, the best inside intel is that he lived in Fort Myers as a toddler and has had family here for more than 25 years.
Tall with long hair and a beard, Brady looks more like a musician than a winemaker who hangs out in Southwest Florida, and he does indeed have a passion for live music. On a recent trip home we met up with some wine-loving friends and shared some current releases. Without exception, they are all great finds.
About six years ago Jaffurs began making a Grenache blanc that Brady calls,
“My go-to wine for lunch.” Originating in Spain as a Grenache mutation, Grenache blanc is one of the premiere blending grapes for white wines in southern France.
The Santa Barbara production is low but Brady says, “I’m passionate about it and it’s fun to make.” Acidic with tropical fruit, the wine spends a little time in neutral oak providing a bit of vanilla and honey.
The focus at Jaffurs is on the so-called Rhone varietals such as viognier and Grenache with syrah being their specialty.
Fitting for Southwest Florida, the 2014 Ben Nacido Vineyard Viognier is aromatic and lovely with stone fruits such as pear, and spice like that of a ginger cookie. Someone at the table called it the perfect breakfast wine, a great way to start the day. I have to agree.
The old school foot stomping method is still used at Jaffurs — think I Love Lucy — for making the 2012 Santa Barbara County Grenache. No funky feet here, rather a fruity, intoxicating aroma. A medium bodied wine with raspberry, plum and a little cocoa, Brady gushes, “Grenache delivers on everything pinot noir promises.”
But it’s the Syrah that grows so well in Santa Barbara and has been the flagship of Jaffurs for more than 20 years: five vineyards produce eight wines. Going into BBQ season, these are good ones to keep on hand as they make great friends with grilled meat.
Your best shot at scoring the 2012 Larner Vineyard Syrah Reserve is from the winery itself and it is worth the shipping charge. A lush, fruity nose, it’s complex and elegant with black cherry and a bit of cola; one that could easily age.
The headliner is the 2013 Santa Barbara Syrah, a blend of fruit from all five vineyards, along with a bit of petite sirah, mourvedre and Grenache for structure.
The nose is luscious, floral and fruity with an ultraviolet hue along the edge of the glass. With dark fruit and pepper on the finish the best quote I heard from my drinking companions was, “It tastes like greasy fingers and good times,” in other words a good afternoon of eating ribs with family and friends.
With a description like that, forget the bottle; get a case. Cheers!
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| (Photo: Gina Birch/special to The News-press) |
I visited the area just after the movie had won an Academy Award, not because of that, but because I just happened to be in Southern California and Santa Barbara was an easy drive. There were official Sideways tours and scores of wine lovers forging their own paths to wineries and restaurants featured in the movie.
Trying to avoid those groups (because at the time I was way too cool for that), my friend and I hit the well established and the hidden gems, with one of my faves being Jaffurs Wine Cellars. When we drove up I thought that this garage in the middle of the city CAN'T be the winery…but it was and it was awesome.
Established in 1994, Jaffurs was among the first to make syrah and Rhone-style winesin the area, according to winemaker Matt Brady. Brady, has been with Jaffurs for 11 years, promoted to winemaker last year, however, the best inside intel is that he lived in Fort Myers as a toddler and has had family here for more than 25 years.
Tall with long hair and a beard, Brady looks more like a musician than a winemaker who hangs out in Southwest Florida, and he does indeed have a passion for live music. On a recent trip home we met up with some wine-loving friends and shared some current releases. Without exception, they are all great finds.
About six years ago Jaffurs began making a Grenache blanc that Brady calls,
“My go-to wine for lunch.” Originating in Spain as a Grenache mutation, Grenache blanc is one of the premiere blending grapes for white wines in southern France.
The Santa Barbara production is low but Brady says, “I’m passionate about it and it’s fun to make.” Acidic with tropical fruit, the wine spends a little time in neutral oak providing a bit of vanilla and honey.
The focus at Jaffurs is on the so-called Rhone varietals such as viognier and Grenache with syrah being their specialty.
Fitting for Southwest Florida, the 2014 Ben Nacido Vineyard Viognier is aromatic and lovely with stone fruits such as pear, and spice like that of a ginger cookie. Someone at the table called it the perfect breakfast wine, a great way to start the day. I have to agree.
The old school foot stomping method is still used at Jaffurs — think I Love Lucy — for making the 2012 Santa Barbara County Grenache. No funky feet here, rather a fruity, intoxicating aroma. A medium bodied wine with raspberry, plum and a little cocoa, Brady gushes, “Grenache delivers on everything pinot noir promises.”
But it’s the Syrah that grows so well in Santa Barbara and has been the flagship of Jaffurs for more than 20 years: five vineyards produce eight wines. Going into BBQ season, these are good ones to keep on hand as they make great friends with grilled meat.
Your best shot at scoring the 2012 Larner Vineyard Syrah Reserve is from the winery itself and it is worth the shipping charge. A lush, fruity nose, it’s complex and elegant with black cherry and a bit of cola; one that could easily age.
The headliner is the 2013 Santa Barbara Syrah, a blend of fruit from all five vineyards, along with a bit of petite sirah, mourvedre and Grenache for structure.
The nose is luscious, floral and fruity with an ultraviolet hue along the edge of the glass. With dark fruit and pepper on the finish the best quote I heard from my drinking companions was, “It tastes like greasy fingers and good times,” in other words a good afternoon of eating ribs with family and friends.
With a description like that, forget the bottle; get a case. Cheers!
Southwest Florida Has A 'Sideways' Connection
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.jpg "We Are All Together at Stagecoach Wine Tours")
