The Pour: Pale gold. Tart apple and floral aromas lead to crushed rock. Clean kumquat, green apple, and lime zest flavors complement the opulence of the wine’s mouthfeel and are joined mid-palate by sweet clover, subtle salinity, and pink peppercorns. Sip it with hamachi, yuzu, and peppery micro-greens or with pan-roasted sea bass topped with tarragon cream sauce.
The Buzz: Chien’s Grüner Veltliner is the very first to be grown and produced in Santa Barbara County and only the third in the state. Grüner Veltliner is a full-bodied Austrian white wine grape varietal known for pairing well with food. Fruit for Chien’s Grüner comes from Evergreen Vineyard, just north of Los Olivos. Winemaker Don Schroeder (also the winemaker for Sea Smoke Cellars) and his wife, Lindsay, are devoted dog lovers and donate a percentage of Chien’s profits to canine rescue organizations each year.