Lea Wines Rose 2014
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This wine is absolutely dry and pairs beautifully with Mexican food, spicy Asian dishes and sushi.
Jennifer's road to winemaking was not a direct one though her interest in wine started early. When she was twelve years old, her mother, a wine importer at the time, decided to move them to Paris for a year. It was an incredible learning experience that immersed Jennifer in French culture and the culture of winemaking. She met winemakers, toured wineries throughout France, and, like her French friends, began tasting the wines served with evening meals. While Jennifer went on to pursue a career in broadcast journalism then a career as a TV and film writer in Los Angeles, her love of food and wine remained an important part of her life. She continued to make regular visits to France and, of course, to her home town of New Orleans which had also fostered her love of great cuisine paired with great wine.
In 2001 Jennifer moved to Santa Barbara County's wine country, feeling that it would be a perfect opportunity to combine her two passions - wine and writing. The beautiful and peaceful countryside provided an idyllic creative setting and gave her an opportunity to start working with local wineries.
In 2002 she met up-and-coming winemaker Joey Tensley. The connection was immediate and by 2003 they were married and had a son, Oliver. Tensley Wines was and remains a relatively small, hands-on operation, and Jennifer spent a great deal of time working side by side with her husband. By 2005 she felt ready to launch her own brand.
Jennifer started Lea Wines with two vineyard-designated Roses, a vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, and a Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir blend. True to the Tensley tradition, there is a simple philosophy behind her winemaking - get out of the way and let the vineyard speak for itself.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.