Meadow View Townhomes at Rice Ranch are located right in the middle of the Santa Maria Valley wine-growing Winery region, which is also located in Santa Barbara Wine Country. With all the wineries in the Santa Maria area, Foxen Canyon, Los Alamos and north to Arroyo Grande, there is a ton of wine tasting to do within a 20-minute drive from Orcutt. And with over 75 sparkling wine producers here in Santa Barbara County, there are plenty of Champagne-style wines right near Rice Ranch.
Here is an excerpt from Cali Coast Wine Country Sparkling Wine Maps (maps of all sparkling wine producers in Santa Barbara and SLO County):
“California Sparkling Wine can’t be called Champagne—it’s not from the Champagne region of France—but much of the Santa Barbara County Sparkling Wine is made in the same méthode traditionelle, or méthode champenoise, used in Champagne.
Another style many winemakers use is pétillant naturel, or natural bubbles, and is the oldest (and easiest) way to make sparkling wine—also called méthode ancestrale. Pét-nats differ from traditional Champagne production in that the wine is bottled before the fermentation is complete (so only 1 fermentation happens, partially in the bottle), no sugar or yeast is added for a second fermentation, and it’s usually unfiltered, and can be made from a multitude of grape varieties.
It also takes a much shorter time than the traditional method, meaning more winemakers can get in on the bubbly action. Pét-nat’s bubbles typically don’t last as long as traditional sparkling wine, and the flavors can be all over the map, instead of the classic style and flavor profile you get from the traditional method.”
Check out these Central Coast sparkling wine producers near Rice Ranch in Orcutt!
Closest: Presqu’ile Winery
Presqu’ile specializes in cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are 2 of the main grapes in Champagne, so they are perfectly positioned for French-style sparkling wine. They have 5 sparkling wines in total, but 4 of them are for wine club only.
The Presqu’ile Non Vintage Brut Cuvee Sparkling wine is produced in the traditional méthode champenoise in-house at Presqu’ile, just 4 miles from Rice Ranch. It’s crisp and clean, made from 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir. It was fermented & aged for 5 months, and has that apply, brioche toasty flavor that you expect from Champagne.
Most: Riverbench Winery
Riverbench produces 7 different sparklers! They are also the only Champagne maker on the Central Coast to make a 100% Pinot Meunier sparkling wine from their own estate Pinot Meunier grapes. In Champagne, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier are the main grapes for sparkling wines, and Riverbench specializes in all three.
2016 Demi Sec – This off-dry sparkling has an attractive and pleasant palate of apple and pear.
2017 Blanc de Noirs – Deep, complex, and suitable for special occasions.
2018 Blanc de Blancs – Soft and lush, yet bright and fresh, this traditionally made sparkler is a beauty.
2017 Brut Rosé – Light, fresh, and fruity, this wine is perfect for a warm, sunny day. Pairs nicely with a picnic basket.
2018 Cork Jumper Cuvee – A unique and delicious blend of the three main grapes used in Champagne, France: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
2014 Reserve Blanc de Blancs – An extended tirage and extra time in barrel make this the most oxidized sparkling in our lineup, with hints of toasted hazelnut and marzipan.
2017 Sparkling Pinot Meunier – Santa Barbara County’s only sparkling Pinot Meunier exhibits a stunning palate of berry, caraway, and a touch of yeast.
Oldest: Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
Laetitia has the oldest heritage of sparkling wine on the Central Coast, having planted the estate estate vineyards were planted in 1982, and the first wines were released in 1984 under the estate’s former name, Maison Deutz. The French-owned winery in San Luis Obispo County once produced 30,000 cases of sparkling wine annually. Laetitia still produces 4 sparkling wines in the same manner, and with the same French basket press, on display at the tasting room.
Brut Cuvée – Gala apple, streams of bubbles and soft melon notes meet to create this festive sparkling wine comprised of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, respectively. Lemon chiffon and sultry pear framed by freshly baked challah bread come forward on second approach of our house sparkling wine, great for pairing with pork with an apple-celery root slaw or our winemaker’s favorite: potato chips.
2018 Laetitia Brut de Blanc – Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, this lively sparkler shows bright flavors of grapefruit pith, lime blossom and kiwifruit. Clean and focused, the wine finishes with delicate white tea, crushed stone and buttered toast nuances.
2018 Laetitia Sparkling Brut Rose – Composed of our best estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, this alluring sparkler opens with fresh aromas of raspberry, blackberries, and red currants coupled with subtle hints of lime. Round and full in the mouth, flavors of freshly cut peaches and tangerine ride on a balancing acidity, leading to a long and savory mouthwatering finish.
2018 Laetitia XD Sparkling – With just a “kiss” of sweetness, our beautiful interpretation of a demi-sec, the XD opens up with aromas of honeysuckle, strawberry rhubarb pie and orange zest. Its luscious, round flavors pair well with fruit-driven desserts.
Coolest: 3 Wineries in Los Alamos
Los Alamos has a free spirit, and so cultivates the same in its wines. There are 3 wineries along Bell Street that produce sparkling wine in smaller quantities. This means they pop up at various times of the year, sell out fast, and tend to be made with more nontraditional grapes.
Lo-Fi’s 2019 Sparkling Pinot Noir was made from Pinot Noir around the SkyView Hotel in the traditioanl method, but the winemaker is constantly creating new sparklers. Coming this spring is a sparkling Chenin Blanc and a Pét-nat Mondeuse rosé. Keep your eye on this winery, as they may release even more bubbles next year.
Municipal Winery’s 10-Year Fizz is a riff on the great sparkling Shiraz wines from Seppelts in Great Western, Australia. We took a ripe, rich Syrah base wine, aged in wood for 18 months before bottling with an addition of sugar and yeast. It’s been slowly aging and complexifying since then. Next week, we’ll disgorge them – that thing where we freeze the necks with dry ice and open the bottles to release a frozen plug of sediment and leave clean wine behind in the bottle. We will add a dosage of some port that we’ve had stashed in barrel since 2010, and cap and label the finished wine. This is one of the most special, rare wines we’ve ever released.
A Tribute to Grace’s Gracias Madre was release this month and is already sold out! Winemaker Angela Osbournce loves Grenache, so she makes her bubbly from that grape. This Gracias Madre Blanc de Noirs is made in the traditional method, and named in honor of her mother. Join her mailing list to get bottles of the next release before they sell out.
So, buy local bubbles this season, and celebrate!
