Winemaker Notes
The wine pairs beautifully with hearty dishes such as braised meats and stews. Add a savory element such as fennel or orange zest to draw out the subtle nuances in the wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
When I tasted this wine, I did not know what to think. At first, I thought: how can this be? How can a Santa Barbara County example of this majestic grape compare to classic versions from the Old World? As I continued tasting, I uncovered more than just simple fruit. Savory, with so many spices, and fruity, with a multitude of nuances—red, blue, black, and dried fruits—the 2014 Palmina Nebbiolo Hoena made me stop and think about how well the New World has progressed in the production of fine wines. (Tasted: February 8, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.