The 2021 Vintage Growing Season – A Santa Barbara County Retrospective

Think back to 2021 . . . the world was emerging from lockdowns, live music was making a comeback, and the Olympics finally took place—albeit a year late. But what was happening in the vineyards of Santa Barbara County?

Head Winemaker Matt Brady joins us to look back at the 2021 growing season, a year that delivered exceptional wines despite a rollercoaster of conditions. A cool, dry start led to a delayed bud break, setting the stage for a later-than-usual harvest. Without the typical heat spikes of past years, the extended hang time resulted in remarkable physiological ripeness, moderate sugar levels, bold flavors, and high acidity. But the season wasn’t without its challenges—mildew pressure in some vineyards and the looming threat of the Alisal Fire kept winemakers on their toes.

Still, the payoff was undeniable. High-acid Chardonnays, beautifully balanced Pinot Noirs, and a lineup of wines defined by freshness and elegance made 2021 a vintage to remember. The introduction of Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, as well as expanded blocks at Rancho La Viña, Radian, and Bent Rock, brought even more complexity to the portfolio. Four years later, these wines are proving their potential, showing grace, structure, and a bright future in the bottle.

INTERVIEW

Miles Cotton: All right, Matt, let’s dive into the 2021 vintage. What made this year so unique?

Matt Brady: The 2021 vintage is particularly special to me—it had this almost magical essence throughout the growing season. It was a cool, dry year with minimal rainfall, only about five to six inches from late 2020 through spring 2021. That cold weather led to a later-than-usual bud break, which, in turn, pushed harvest back as well.

The summer was unusually mild, and we didn’t experience the extreme Labor Day heatwave we typically see every other year. That meant we got an extended hang time—a defining feature of the Santa Rita Hills’ cool climate—allowing for exceptional physiological ripeness. This resulted in moderate sugar levels, big flavors, and high acidity, a perfect combination for balanced, age-worthy wines.

Miles Cotton: It sounds like everything fell into place beautifully. As we approach the release of the 2021 wines, can you highlight some key offerings like the Radian Chardonnay, Rancho La Viña Pinot Noir, Spear Grenache, and Syrah from John Sebastiano Vineyard?

Matt Brady: Absolutely. The 2021 Radian Chardonnay stands out for its complexity. Being from an extremely cool-climate vineyard, it’s a challenge to farm, but it rewards us with low yields and incredible depth of flavor.

The Rancho La Viña Pinot Noir is the showstopper of the vintage. It’s got serious weight and concentration while still maintaining elegance and bright acidity. The cool conditions really helped enhance its structure and aging potential.

Moving on to Spear Grenache, this wine continues to push the limits of what’s possible in a cool-climate region known more for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Spear is organically farmed, and in 2021, it produced a wine with a super elegant expression, showing purity of fruit and finesse.

And finally, the John Sebastiano Vineyard Syrah is all about structure and focus. It’s built for longevity, showcasing the cool vintage’s characteristics with bright acidity and deep, layered complexity.

Miles Cotton: With such a long growing season, were there any significant operational challenges?

Matt Brady: Definitely. The extended hang time was great for ripeness, but it also brought challenges. Lower yields meant that all of our fruit seemed to ripen at the same time, making harvest logistics tricky.

That being said, the slightly below-average yields ended up being a blessing in disguise. If the crop load had been heavier, ripening everything evenly would have been even more difficult. As it played out, we saw beautiful balance across our fruit, and everything came in at the perfect time.

Another exciting development was the introduction of Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard to our portfolio. It’s the westernmost vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and brings a unique perspective to our Pinot Noir lineup.

Miles Cotton: That’s exciting! Is Dave Phinney, the owner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, actively involved in the vineyard?

Matt Brady: I haven’t personally met Dave, but from what I understand, he occasionally visits. The day-to-day operations are overseen by Amy, the vineyard manager—who, like me, is a Gaucho! The vineyard’s commitment to biodynamic practices makes it a great addition to our 2021 lineup, and we’re thrilled to see what it brings to the table.

Miles Cotton: Thanks for sharing these insights, Matt. It’s clear that 2021 was a remarkable vintage, and I know wine lovers will be excited to experience these wines for themselves!

Matt Brady: Absolutely. Despite some challenges, 2021 was a fantastic year that gave us beautifully structured wines with great aging potential. I can’t wait for people to taste them.

Our discussion delves into the distinctive characteristics of key wines from the 2021 vintage, including the Radian Chardonnay, the Rancho La Viña Pinot Noir, the Spear Grenache, and Syrah from the John Sebastiano Vineyard. Brady emphasizes the benefits of the cool climate in Santa Rita Hills, providing extended hang time and promoting physiological ripeness. He details the unique attributes of each wine, highlighting flavors, structures, and the overall food-friendly nature of the 2021 collection.

INTERVIEW:

Miles Cotton: Hey Matt, it’s great to have you here to look at some of the complexities behind the 2021 vintage and growing season, anticipating the release of the first 2021 SAMsARA wines. Can you share some insights into what was happening in the vineyards?

Matt Brady: Sure, Miles. The 2021 vintage is particularly special to me, it had this magical essence throughout the growing season. It was a cool and dry year, with minimal rainfall—only five or six inches during winter and between 20 and 21 inches in the rainy season.

Matt Brady: Bud break was slightly delayed, influencing the ultimate timing of harvest. A late bud break typically translates to a delayed harvest, and in 2021, everything was a touch behind schedule. The summer, typically marked by an extreme Labor Day Heat Wave, took on a more moderate tone in 21. We experienced a civilized harvest, a winemaker’s dream, with the benefit of extended hang time—a characteristic of Santa Rita Hills’ cool climate and maritime influence.

Matt Brady: Not only does Santa Rita typically have a long growing season for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but in 2021, the extra-long hang time allowed for exceptional physiological ripeness. This resulted in moderate sugar levels, big flavors, and high acidity—a perfect combination that excites any winemaker.

Miles Cotton: It sounds like everything fell into place seamlessly. Now, as we approach the release of the 2021 vintage wines, can you provide some highlights for key offerings like the Radian Chardonnay, the Rancho La Viña Pinot Noir, the Spear Grenache, and Syrah from the John Sebastiano Vineyards?

Matt Brady: The 2021 Radian Chardonnay stands out for its complexity. Being from an extremely cool climate vineyard, it poses challenges in farming but rewards us with low yields, big flavors, and distinctive character.

Matt Brady: Now, the Rancho La Viña Pinot Noir steals the spotlight as the showstopper of the vintage. With its weight, significant flavors, and extra concentration and depth this year, it remains remarkably elegant and bright. Moving on to the Spear Grenache, it’s an interesting wine pushing the limits in a cool climate region dominated by varietals like Pinot and Chardonnay. The 2021 Spear Grenache, organically farmed, offers a super elegant expression.

Matt Brady: Lastly, the John Sebastiano Vineyard Syrah is noteworthy for their structure and focus, built for age-ability, showcasing the characteristics of the cool vintage. All these 2021 wines boast food-friendly acidity, a fundamental theme given the nature of the vintage.

Miles Cotton: Fascinating! Did you encounter any operational challenges during this cool vintage?

Matt Brady: We did, while the cool vintage brought the advantage of extra hang time, it also posed operational challenges. Lower yields, while beneficial for flavor concentration, brought about a simultaneous ripening of all fruits, presenting a bit of a logistical challenge during harvest.

Matt Brady: Interestingly, the slightly below-average yields, initially disappointing, turned out to be a blessing. With a heavier crop load, the challenge of ripening all the fruit simultaneously might have been more pronounced. As the weeks passed, we appreciated the balance, ensuring the fruit got ripe at the right time.

Matt Brady: Additionally, we introduced some new vineyards, working with Our Lady of Guadalupe for Pinot Noir, adding another layer of excitement to our 2021 offerings.

Miles Cotton: That’s intriguing. Is Dave Phinney, the owner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, actively involved?

Matt Brady: While I haven’t personally met Dave, I understand he occasionally visits the vineyard. The full-time vineyard manager, Amy, (a Gaucho like me) oversees day-to-day operations. Our Lady of Guadalupe, with its biodynamic practices and unique qualities, contributes to the richness and diversity of our 2021 wines.

Miles Cotton: Thanks for sharing these insights, Matt. It’s evident that the 2021 vintage has its unique story, making the anticipation for these wines even more exciting!