Winemaker Notes
This rosé shows a delicate ballet slipper pink hue with just a dash of deeper pink. The nose is expressive and vibrant, offering pronounced aromas of strawberry and tangerine layered with floral notes, passion fruit, and orange blossom—bold and inviting even right after bottling. On the palate, it is dry, crisp, and lively, with just the right touch of fruitiness and framboise flavors complemented by subtle hints of rhubarb, sweet tarts, and a dry, savory finish. A refreshing acidity and bright energy give this wine plenty of verve and charm.
Blend: 88% Grenache, 8% Mourvèdre, 1.5% Syrah, 1.5% Counoise, 1% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A longtime leader in Central Coast rosés, this vintage of Riviera succeeds as usual. A very pale pink in the glass, it offers red apple, chalk and lime juice aromas on the nose. The palate is bright with rose petal and light bubblegum flavors while very tactile and brisk in structure.
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Vinous
The 2023 Rosé Riviera is bright, aromatic and nicely perfumed. Cranberry, white pepper and crushed rocks abound in this tasty, nervy Rosé. The 2023 is a bit richer than some vintages, but that style works quite well in balancing the bracing style Doug Margerum favors.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.