LAND: Volcanic, granite and riverstone
WHERE: Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria Valley, CA.
BLEND: 100% Pinot Noir
PRODUCTION: 2023 cases
ABV: 13.1%
ÈLEVAGE: 11 months
WINEMAKING: Three sites, harvested and vinified separately. The Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande sites were fermented de-stemmed; the Santa Maria Valley site fermented with 20% whole cluster. The wines were aged as single-vineyard lots for 11 months in neutral 59gal barriques, before coming together in tank one moon before bottling. Notes of forest floor, juniper, bramble, rose and cerise abound. Finishes bright and long, with just a hint of salinity.
--------THE PRODUCER--------
Land of Saints
Three friends.
Four cultures.
One California sun.
A collaboration between Angela and Jason Osborne (A Tribute to Grace Wine Company), and Manuel Cuevas (C2 Cellars). We met during the 2013 vintage and have been discussing sunshine, moon signs and our Kiwi/Cornish/Mexican-American roots ever since. We stem from three beautifully different corners of the globe, united by our love of California and the vinous expressions of Santa Barbara County.
From Cornwall (also known as the Land of Saints) to California (with her myriad of Sans and Santas), via New Zealand. These wines symbolize our cultures and the wines that give our sense of place.
“A little bit about the name Land of Saints – I hail from the county of Cornwall in Southwest England which has a rich and ancient history. Around 410AD the country entered a period known as the ‘age of the saints’ as holy people came and lived in this stunningly beautiful county.
In the following centuries over 70 of them left their name as a legacy to the land, as a result, Cornwall became affectionately known as the ‘Land of Saints’. I’ve always loved the name and on a more holistic view, I like the idea of a land filled with Saints… it would make for quite a place! After moving to California, I found a new Land of Saints (we counted 33 Sans and Santas). Golden, with open skies, and a friendship that will last a lifetime.”
– Jason Osborne, Land of Saints Wine Company
“Our focus is on this beautiful valley we call home. Varietals and sites will differ from year to year, intentionally. The three of us live on the Central Coast, and are forever amazed at how many sites provide so many differing expressions.
The quote on the back label refers to an old Cornish saying (it sounds quite amazing when heard through Jason’s accent): What’s said of old, is said in truth. Applied to wine, this conveys our intentions to being true to where we are, and crafting honest expressions of this ancient golden land, in the year we find ourselves.”
– Angela Osborne, Land of Saints Wine Company
--------THE GRAPE--------
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir produces some of the world's most expensive, most lauded, rarest and delicious wines. Equally it is one of the most difficult grapes to grow successfully and as a result it is quite hard to make a balanced Pinot Noir. It is historically from Burgundy, most specifically in the Cote de Nuits, so much so that people will refer to Pinot Noir as a 'Burgundy'.
--------THE REGION--------
California
California is the United States of America's largest and most important wine region. It produces 90% of the USA's total production - with the fair majority of that being red wines. Since it is 'always sunny in California' it is the perfect region to grow red grapes that need a lot of heat to ripen up. This has lead to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and an Italian grape varietal: Primitivo (Californian's call in Zinfandel) to being the most important red grapes. Chardonnay is the leading white followed by Sauvignon Blanc.
