News

For the Fourth: Rosé All Day

Dennis Schaefer
June 28th, 2018
Santa Barbara News-Press

Summer is heating up and nothing quenches the wine thirst like a good rosé.  It's basically a red wine (okay, pink from the limited contact with the grape skins) that acts like a white wine. It can display the flavor character of a red wine while it's chilled down like a white wine. It's versatile at the table as well: there are the lighter, delicate styles to the more muscular versions and terrific bubbly as well. Here are some that came across my desk recently that will be unpretentious and fun to slurp on the Fourth.

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Announces New Red Wine Blend, Hidden Asset

—Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards announces the release of its new red wine blend—Hidden Asset. Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards’ long history and extensive experience of grape growing and winemaking produced this classic signature offering.

May 1, 2018

Diligent planning in the vineyards, with each site selected for specific micro-climates, soils, and sun exposure, allows Lucas & Lewellen to grow a range of grape varieties, from the renown to the rare. Hidden Asset draws from this diversity for a distinctive blend that shows what happens when varying influences come together. A spectrum of grape varieties, an expanse of vineyards, and close collaboration between the vineyard and the winery – these are Lucas & Lewellen’s Hidden Assets.

2016 Lucas & Lewellen Hidden Asset

Celebrate New Year’s with a Local Sparkling Wine

More than 50 Santa Barbara wineries craft bubbly in the méthode traditionelle or méthode champenoise style used in French Champagnes

Laurie Jervis
Noozhawk

In the year since I wrote about Santa Barbara’s plethora of sparkling wines, even more winemakers have jumped on bubbly bandwagon and are crafting stellar goods popular with holiday revelers.

There’s Something for Everyone in Solvang, Including the Wine Connoisseur

Donna Polizzi
12/23/2017
Noozhawk

Solvang is one of the most charming communities on the Central Coast, but locals love it as home to some of the world’s most extravagant pastries. The Danish town is chock full of fantastic bakeries, with delicious butter cookies and Danishes to die for.

The renowned Aebleskiver, which means “pancake puffs” in Danish, are addicting and will melt in your mouth.

2017 BEST OF THE VALLEY

The "Best Tasting Room" in the Santa Ynez Valley

October 26, 2017
Santa Ynez Valley News

Thank you to the readers of the Santa Ynez Valley News for voting Lucas & Lewellen Tasting Room as THE "Best Tasting Room" in the Santa Ynez Valley!

Best Tasting Room

Roses' In full bloom in Santa Barbara County

Dennis Schaefer
August 10, 2017
SANTA BARBARA NEWS PRESS
 
Rose' has become an overwhelming choice for summer sipping over the last few years. In California, with the temperate climate, we drink it year-round. But the fly-over country between the two coasts is finally catching on to how refreshing a delicious rose' can be. It would seem that the popularity of rose' has reached critical mass. I mean, you know that when Apothic, Kendall-Jackson, Menage a Trois, Noble Vines and Dark Horse jump on the rose' bandwagon, the bloom just might be off the rose, so to speak. I'm not saying any of these bottlings are bad; several of them are quite tasty. But in the great scheme of things, many of them are mass produced, marketed to appeal to a certain customer profile and price point. 
 
Wouldn't you rather indulge yourself with a rose' from a Santa Barbara County producer who makes rose' in a style that the winemaker simply likes to drink? No corporate committees or targeted ads; just the best darn rose' that he or she can make every year. Here are some from this year's crop that I enjoyed.
 

 

Tasting Lucas & Lewellen Wines with Michael Lewellen

Jill Weinlein
June 5th, 2017
Luxe Epicure

Up on the 71st floor of the US Bank in Los Angeles, I enjoyed an informative luncheon at the elegant 71Above restaurant overlooking the city to the mountains and sea. At my table sat Michael Lewellen, the son of Royce Lewellen from Lucas & Lewellen Winery. Michael shared with me a little bit about himself and the history of his father’s winery with Louie Lucas.

A photo of Rosé pouring into the glass

Who's Doing Italian on the Central Coast?

Educational Articles for Wine Lovers

Carol Maskus
May 24, 2017
Central Coast Wine Writer

Central Coast Wine Writer

Educational articles for wine lovers

 May 24, 2017

Who’s Doing Italian on the Central Coast?

When I say “Italian,” I am referring to California producers of Italian varietals, such as Sangiovese and Teroldego.

Life-Uncorked.com

Wine is Culture. Wine is History.

Susan Montgomery
February 10, 2017
Life-Uncorked

What do you need for a great girls’ getaway?  First you need at least two good friends who like traveling together and have the same love of good times. What else would make the trip ideal? How about comfy accommodations, boutique shopping, relaxing salon treatments, outstanding wine, and exceptional cuisine, including decadent chocolate?  The charming Scandinavian town of Solvang, California, has it all.

In the mood for Merlot?

One Santa Barbara winery is banking on it

Gabe Saglie
1/19/2017
Santa Barbara News Press

The long-lasting effects of "Sideways" on the Santa Barbara wine industry are well-documented. The Oscar-winning comedy from 2004 romanced Pinot Noir while delivering a blow to Merlot. Pioneer vintner Louis Lucas, who’s been growing wine grapes for close to five decades, saw it happen firsthand.

Winemaker Megan McGrath Gates, Royce Lewellen, and author Gabe Saglie

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