Oreana Winery – A Family Affair
Michael Hepworth
By Bonnie Carroll
Santa Barbara, CA(Spiristman)5/15/12/—According to Christian Gavin, owner of Oreana, the Oreana (o’rea’na) name comes from the grand ranching days of California ’s Central Coast . It is a term used by cattle ranchers for an unbranded calf that strays onto your property and is therefore yours to keep. The name is reminiscent of found treasure or the renegade spirit of this beautiful region and the wines produced here.
This winery and inviting tasting room are a popular center for social sipping, and belong to Christian and Emily Gavin. It is a family business located in the “Funk Zone” of the City of Santa Barbara , and began its operation in a former tire shop eight years ago. The tire shop proved to have some great wine making attributes, including concrete floors and a brick structure that provided an ideal climate control for barrel storage. The wine room is always alive with people enjoying a glass of wine or selecting a bottle from the many Oreana wines that are displayed along the walls of the rustic tasting venue.
Oreana has become known for the fantastic holiday parties they host and the place is a favorite rental destination for party planners. The outside patio and back room provide ample space for a huge crowd or an intimate dinner tasting. Oreana has become known for their great wines; from small batches of Pinot Noir to sizeable Red Table Wine it’s all good. Their current production is about 10,000 cases but some lots are as small as 20 cases. According to Christian Gavin, their award winning Pinot program and Sparkling wines continue to generate rave reviews from Wine Spectator, the Wall Street Journal and Wine Enthusiast.
Wine selections include 2009 Oreana Chardonnay, Oreana Blanc de Noirs, 2009 Oreana Malbec Rose, 2009 Oreana Petit Deux (50% Petit Verdot/50% Petite Syrah), 2009 Pinot Noir, 2009 Oreana Barbara, 2009 Oreana Refrosco, and Oreana “Tilly” which was named for Christian’s grandmother, and a portion of the sales from the annual Alzheimer’s Association fundraiser goes to the charity. Oreana wines range in price from $18.00 to $25.00.
Oreana Winery, 205 Anacapa Street , Santa Barbara , CA 93101 , (805) 962-5857. For information visit: www.oreanawinery.com.
Michael Hepworth
287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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Bonnie Carroll http://www.lifebitesnews.com