News

Bubbles on the Blind

Tasting Reveals Wide Range of Local Sparkling Wines

Gabe Saglie
December 24, 2015

Not too long ago, a tasting like this would have been impossible. When Flying Goat Cellars' Norm Yost launched his sparkling wine program in 2005, he was pretty much on his own. Other labels had dabbled in bubbles in the past, like Brewer-Clifton and Whitcraft. But sparklers made yearly from Santa Barbara County grapes was brand new territory.

Today, the number of local producers with a regular sparkling wine program approaches 40.

And, this year alone marks the first-ever releases of bubbles by several labels, like Alma Rosa and Potek. So the time seemed right to pick a random sampling and taste some of Santa Barbara's effervescence at its best. 

A picture of Lucas & Lewellen Sparkling Wine

Pairings

Exotic Flavors Meet

Father John Finley
November 8, 2015
Lompoc Record

Where else would Italy meet Thailand except in the pages of our local Santa Barbara County newspapers? Although the default approach to pairing spicy Asian cuisine is toward a sauvignon blanc, riesling or gewürztraminer, there are a number of local Italian varietals that can pair well with the exotic flavors of Thailand and Vietnam as well.

A photo of Father John Finley's tasty Thai Kabocha Coconut Soup

Wine, Wash, & Wag

Wine, Wash, & Wag - a dog gone success

Mary Ann Norbom
October 22, 2015
The Santa Ynez Valley News

Wine, Wash & Wag spread out around the downtown village of Solvang. It was the brainchild of Lucas & Lewellen events manager Anjie Parker and Pam Koga, owner/operator of Pam's Pampered Pooches mobile grooming.

A picture of a dog friendly tasting room in Solvang

2015 California Winegrape Harvest Report

Early, light, and exceptional quality

October 15, 2015
Wine Institute
SANTA BARBARA
Louis Lucas, Third Generation Grape Grower
Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
Harvest started a couple of weeks earlier than ever before. Our yields in some varieties, like Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio, are unbelievably low. Both bunch size and berry size are small. This situation is statewide, especially in the coastal regions. Everyone is questioning why. Many things enter into it,
like the fact that we had three large crops in a row, an early fall frost, a warm winter, bad weather during flowering, irregular berry set, a lack of winter rains and no deep soil moisture. Our total production will be down about 50 percent. I do expect the 2015 vintage to be a quality one. We were done harvesting a month early.
A picture of full grape bins at morning harvest

My Dinners with Richards & Other Musings

A sleepover in Solvang

Ilona Saari
September 25, 2015

Solvang, though built to mimic a quaint Danish town, complete with a museum honoring Hans Christian Anderson, looks more like a town out of my childhood Cinderella or Hansel & Gretel Golden Books.  But there's nothing fairy tale about the wineries.

An image of tasting room Employee Mark hard at work

Blessing of the Grapes Held at Winery

The Lucas & Lewellen Grape Harvest

Len Wood
August 18th, 2015
Santa Maria TImes

For winemaker Louis Lucas, the continuing severe drought means less grapes, a whole lot less. So he'll take any help that he can get, even from the divine.

Photo by Len Wood of Father John Finley blessing the first fruits of the Lucas & Lewellen grape harvest

On the cover - Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

Quality begins in the vineyards

Michael Cervin
June 1, 2015
Wine Country this Week

With Lucas & Lewellen wines, it’s all about choice, diversity and keeping it local.

On the cover of Wine Country this Week - Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

Food & Wine

Layers of the Land

Gabe Saglie
June 1, 2015
Food & Wine Magazine

In 1970, Central Valley grower Louis Lucas, also with Al Gagnon and Dale Hampton, established the 800-acre Tepusquet Vineyard. “We were the leading edge,” he admits, “and any time you go to an area that doesn’t have fruit, there’s a risk.” Within five years, however, the caliber of his chardonnay was luring big-name Northern California buyers like Beringer, ZD and Robert Mondavi.

A 1970's photo of Louis Lucas on Wines & Vines Magazine

Wine Country This Week

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

The Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards tasting room offers guests a wide variety of wines to choose from. They craft an impressive array of wines from 26 grape varieties that are grown on their 400 estate acres in Santa Barbara County’s three distinct microclimates, creating a diversity of wine styles to suit every taste preference.

A portrait of winemaker Megan McGrath Gates smiling

Finley's Pairings

Gyro Meatloaf with Tzatziki Sauce

Father John Finley
May 24, 2015
Santa Maria Times

This is definitely a “fusion” dish, but one you will enjoy -- the flavors of Greece rolled into a classic meatloaf and served with a Lucas & Lewellen Malbec wine.

A photo of Gyro Meatloaf with Tzatziki Sauce

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