Vintage Summer
Lifestyle label Nielson Wines is a Santa Barbara County best cellar for every season.
Written by Jenn Thornton
A return to life as it is meant to be lived means finding a vibrant wine—one that is perfect for al fresco picnics, a day by the sea or at the pool, and an impromptu road trip. To this end, Nielson will have everyone uncorking a vintage summer with ease and elegance.
Rooted in the soil of coveted Santa Barbara County wine country, and steeped in its local character, Nielson Wines is a tribute to its namesake, Uriel J. Nielson, who in planting the first commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County in 1964, defied commonly-held opinion that the region was simply too cold to grow grapes. For this assertion, Nielson emerged as a viticulture visionary, and today the appellation he insisted would be one of the top winegrowing regions in the world has lived up to its billing with 100-plus wineries and thousands of vineyard acreage, some of that in Nielson’s camp. Located 18 miles west of the Pacific Ocean, Nielson Vineyard continues its founder’s string of firsts, as one of the inaugural vineyard sites in the valley to view the fog burn off early each morning, a phenomena that results in the label’s full-bodied Pinot Noirs and beautifully balanced Chardonnays.
Quality, uniqueness and balance of flavor are Nielson Wines signatures and its savory sips are ideal for summering (and supping) en plein air. Nielson Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir features a refined bouquet of black cherry, tea leaf, a slight caramel note, and lighter red fruit aromas, with flavors of red fruit and earth and a lasting quality. Neilson Santa Barbara Chardonnay, meanwhile, reveals aromas of citrus flower, clean linen, and a burst of pineapple. This wine is light on the palate with honey and citrus notes and a subtle salinity. Credit the exceptional taste to the small-lot winemaking techniques that Nielson employs to showcase the nuances and character of each vintage—hand pruning, block-by-block harvesting, barrel fermentations and lees stirring. The result? Complex blends that embody the culture, lifestyle and flavor of Santa Barbara County, in bottles with those ever handy screwcaps. Perhaps that is why Nielson Wines is the go-to label for the season spent with sea and sky. From sun up to night out—and endless adventures in between—Nielson’s accessibly priced wine punches way above its weight.
No tasting room? No problem. Nielson Wines is widely distributed throughout Santa Barbara County and available at boutique outlets and large retailers alike, as well as wine shops and restaurants, or wherever you are. Thankfully, this brand is tailor-made to go everywhere. Raise a glass! nielsonwines.com.
