Winemaker Notes
Uber fresh orange blossom and hibiscus. Crunchy and bright with a zesty red fruit layer charging through the palate right up to the crisp finish. Bone dry and only 11% alcohol, like all great Mourvèdre Rosé, the tactile layers carry the day. As the wine settles into the glass and warms up, a misty ground-fog of airy texture creeps through the mouth allowing the tangy, spicy fruit profile to swirl, elevated within.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Para Maria is a blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Petit Verdot. It has deep aromas of mixed berry jam, spearmint, tar and earth. The medium-bodied palate is lighter on its feet than expected, offering plush tannins, rounded acidity and a long, floral finish.
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.