 Integrity and quality are paramount to the wines of Babcock Winery and Vineyards. Because of Bryan's exceptionally high standards, no matter the varietal or vintage, Babcock wines are always among the elite.
Babcock wines feature cool climate, estate-grown fruit as well as grapes from select local vineyards. Highly intellectual and flavorful, each wine possesses distinctive characteristics. These unique qualities are further showcased in a "Terroir" program with multiple annual offerings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon labeled with specific vineyard block designations. Within a vintage, one varietal may have several different designations.
Current Releases
You may find more information about our wines in the Online Store portion of our Web site. By shopping in our Online Store, you signify agreement to our policies.
Many of our wines are very limited in production and sell out quickly. To be assured that you receive a bottle, join one of our wine clubs.
Chardonnay
2008 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
is now available on our web store and in our tasting room.
2008 Chardonnay, Grand Cuvée
is now available on our web store and in our tasting room.
Sauvignon Blanc
2008 Sauvignon Blanc Estate Grown is now available on our web store and in our tasting room.
Pinot Noir
2008 Pinot Noir, Grand Cuvée is now available on our web store and in our tasting room.
2008 Pinot Noir, Rita's Earth is now available on our web store and in our tasting room.
Pinot Gris
2009 Pinot Gris "Naughty Little Hillsides" is now available on our web store and in our tasting room.
Syrah
2006 Syrah, Santa Barbara County (Black Label)
2006 Syrah "Under the Radar"
2009 "Identity Crisis" white Syrah is now available on our web store and in our tasting room.
Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon "Classic Rock"
FATHOM
2007 FATHOM is SOLD OUT
2008 FATHOM will be released in early April 2010.
Merlot
2007 Merlot "Under the Radar" is SOLD OUT.
2008 Merlot "Under The Radar" will be released in early April 2010
Terroir Exclusives
Terroir Exclusives wines are discounted only for Terroir Exclusives and Terroir Exclusives PLUS wine club members.
2008 Pinot Noir "Ocean's Ghost" is now available only on our web store and in our tasting room.
2008 Pinot Noir "DÉJÀ VU" is now available only on our web store and in our tasting room.
2008 Chardonnay "Top Cream" is now available only on our web store and in our tasting room.
2007 Syrah "Nook & Cranny" is now available only on our web store and in our tasting room.
2007 Syrah "Upper Crust" is SOLD OUT.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon "The Loin" will be released to Terroir Exclusives and Terroir Exclusives PLUS wine club members in April of 2010.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon "Nucleus" will be released to Terroir Exclusives and Terroir Exclusives PLUS wine club members in April of 2010.
Wine Making Philosophy
Bryan acknowledges the natural characteristics of each grape variety along with the unique quality derived from the soil (terrior) in which it is grown. Through his fundamental wine making approach, Bryan establishes a conceptual profile for his wines. Then, even at times in the midst of controversy, he works relentlessly to achieve perfection in the finished product.
Ever striving toward better wines has led to some courageous decisions. When Bryan's estate Riesling wasn't hitting the benchmark for which he was aiming, despite the cost, the vines were removed and replaced in 1996 with a grape more exciting and rewarding-- Pinot Grigio. At a time when it was being criticized in Santa Barbara County for its herbal character, the status of Sauvignon Blanc was elevated by Bryan with each vintage receiving high acclaim and selling out every year.
Though the cool climate of Santa Barbara County pushed Cabernet Sauvignon to the background, since 1996 the winery has been fine tuning a Bordeaux-styled red blend called FATHOM. Once Cabernet Franc based, with the recent development of the warmer "Happy Canyon" area of the eastern Santa Ynez Valley, the program has been "blown wide open" to include a greater percentage of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and possibly other Bordeaux  varietals. The result has been so wildly successful that Cabernet Sauvignon is now one of the key varietals at Babcock Vineyards. "New Epoch Reserve", "Classic Rock Cuvée" are offered annually. Vineyard designated bottlings are available under the limited production "Terroir Exclusives" wine club program.
Babcock has also helped to spearhead the Italian and Spanish varietal evolution in Santa Barbara County. Experiments continue with unheralded varieties such as Pigñolo of Italian origin and Loureiro from Spain, in an effort to search out those of potential nobility. "I believe that some of these varieties will be California's next frontier in wine making," says Bryan. |
