Palmina Winery – Snail Prize
LOMPOC
1520 E. Chestnut Ct.
tel. (805) 735-2030
www.palminawines.com
tastingroom@palminawines.com
0 ac – 45,000 bt
“The wines of Palmina are complex, full of character and highly-drinkable, perfect to go with food, and sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards”
PEOPLE
Steve Clifton uses all Italian grapes because he believes that the climate in Santa Barbara is quite similar to much of Northern Italy. In the Italian spirit, Steve believes that wine is simply an “extension of the plate.” To drive this point home, Palmina’s website features recipes curated to pair with each of his wines. His wine club offers a “provisions” membership that includes specialty food in each shipment. His 2015 Vermentino was even served at a 2016 White House State dinner.
VINEYARDS
Like many smaller wineries in Santa Barbara, Clifton does not own land; instead maintaining close relationships with growers in the area. There is a particular focus on vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley: Larner, Honea, Walker, and Fiore. The Honea vineyard was planted specifically for Palmina and grows Arneis, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Tocai Friulano, Barbera, Dolcetto, Lagrein, Merlot, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. The Walker Vineyard is now managed by Palmina, so those wines are very much “grown, produced and bottled” by Palmina. The lauded Larner Vineyard, though focused on French grapes, also planted a block of Malvasia Bianca especially for Palmina.
WINES
The Autunno 2013 is a complex wine of very good quality. It’s a blend of four different varieties: Tocai Friulano, Riesling, Arneis & Vermentino. The result is a golden wine full of baked apple, honeysuckle, almond, and mulling spices. The Lagrein 2014 has a fragrant bouquet of violet and dried rose petals, with sour red cherry and a smoky undertone.
SLOW WINE
Nebbiolo 2008
Excellent and complex; it is a pale brick red color with dried figs, dark cherries, cola and clove.
FERTILIZERS compost
PLANT PROTECTION organic
WEED CONTROL mowing
YEASTS spontaneous fermentation
GRAPES purchase 100%
CERTIFICATION none
Photo credits @Palmina Winery