2020 Piazza Ballard Canyon Estate Syrah

Responsibly Farmed
Hidden Gem
Classic in Style
Woman Winemaker

This special labeling from Piazza Family Wines embodies their more lighthearted and approachable wines from the property. The 2019 Syrah is one of Gretchen’s favorite wines she’s ever made and she loves pairing it with a BBQ portobello mushroom burger!

Certified organic farming practices, 40% whole-cluster and native yeast fermentation, unfined/unfiltered, vegan-friendly, and only 45 cases produced.

Red
  • Tasting Notes raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cacao, cherry cola, clove, white pepper
  • Variety Syrah
  • Region United States, California, Central Coast
  • Volume 750ml
  • Alcohol Volume 14.4%
  • Table Talk Gretchen’s second favorite hobby behind winemaking is horse archery!

$46.00

Out of stock

After falling in love with the Santa Ynez Valley, Ron and Nancy Piazza looked for a place to retreat from the city and call home for almost 30 years. They longed to have a ranch to share their love of the land with their family and friends. When they found what is now called Bella Vista Vineyard in Ballard Canyon they immediately knew it was home. Living among the vines and with sweeping views of Ballard Canyon, Ron and Nancy decided to begin Piazza Family Wines in 2018.

Piazza Family Wines knows that great wines are not made in the cellar but in the vineyard. They intentionally want to showcase the unique qualities of place in their wines. Each wine is handcrafted to represent the soil, climate, and variety for each vintage. There is no substitution for hard work and attention to detail. With a focus on the vineyard, Piazza Family Wines has worked with esteemed vineyard manager, Ruben Solorzano, to follow organic farming practices to ensure that each harvest yields the best possible grapes and gives a true representation of their terroir. Old-world styles blend with new-world techniques when it comes to Piazza Family Wines.

In the winery, Gretchen Voelcker (winemaker) focuses on minimal intervention and allows for the grapes to speak for themselves. She listens to the harvest and picks the grapes at optimal times for balance and complexity. She guides the winemaking process using only native yeasts and the smallest amount of sulfur needed. The wines she crafts are a true sense of place, grape definition, and inherently exude balance and elegance.

SYRAH
Of the noble grape varieties, Syrah may have the oldest geography and history. The vines origins are thought to date back to one of the world’s earliest wine-producing regions, the city of Shiraz in the Middle East. Now worshipped in the Rhône Valley in France, these dark, dense, and powerful wines can be just as distinct as Cabernet Sauvignon. You’ll find this grape also largely grown in Australia, where it is identifiable as Shiraz. Sometimes known to be “meaty,” think exotic spices and darker meat dishes to help showcase the complexity of these wines. Syrah needs time to show its greatness, but when it does, you’ll be thankful you had a bottle!

CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA
When we speak of Central Coast, CA were including numerous diverse regions from Santa Cruz down through Santa Barbara counties. This encompasses smaller areas such as Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Monterey AVA, Paso Robles AVA, Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Ynez Valley AVA, and Sta. Rita Hills AVA. The Central Coast is responsible for many great value wines from a multitude of grape varietals depending on the climate within the specific designated areas. From the coastal AVA’s with influence from the fog and cooling effects, you will find Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The inland AVA’s are much warmer, like Paso Robles, so look here for outstanding Syrah, Grenache, Zinfandel, or Rhône-style blends.