An Evening With Rebecca Work Of Ampelos Cellars
8/25/14 -
Rebecca and Peter Work of Ampelos Cellars first grabbed our attention with their unique and lovely Viognier, which puts a cool-climate twist on the variety's trademark peach and floral notes with unusually bright acidity, herbal and mineral undertones, and a refreshing hint of sea salt. When we learned that Ampelos is Santa Barbara County's first certified organic, biodynamic, and sustainable in practice (SIP) winery, we sought out their unfined, unfiltered Pinot Noir and Syrah-based reds, which impressed us equally with their depth of texture and lively core of flavor.
The Works were clocking long hours in corporate America in 1999 when they purchased 82 acres in what would later become the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. They named it "Ampelos," the Greek word for vine, in homage to the land where they were married and today own a bed-and-breakfast. They entrusted their son Don (now winemaker at Sea Smoke) with the planting of vineyards to Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Viognier. After the events of September 11th, they left their corporate jobs for the solace of the Santa Ynez Valley to pursue their dream of being full-time viticulturists. Ampelos' journey to organic and biodynamic certification started in the mid-2000s, with noticeable improvements in the health of the vineyards and temperament of the wines. In an effort to extend these principles beyond the vines, Ampelos participated in California's pilot program for SIP certification, which ensures broader environmental and social responsibility of certified wineries.
Please join us for a special dinner with Rebecca Work on Tuesday, September 9th, at Back Forty West Restaurant in SoHo (70 Prince Street at the corner of Crosby Street). This is an excellent opportunity to explore biodynamics, sustainability, and diversity of viticulture in Santa Barbara County through an exciting range of Ampelos wines* served alongside Chef Peter Hoffman's farm-to-table fare. We hope to see you there!
*2013 Viognier, 2012 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, 2010 Lambda Pinot Noir, 2007 Rho Pinot Noir, 2009 Syrache, and 2008 Gamma Syrah (please find descriptions below).
