(PRONOUNCED “SAN-SO”) HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR CENTURIES IN SOUTHERN FRANCE – ESPECIALLY LANGUEDOC, COTES DU RHÔNE , AND CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE. THE VARIETY WAS MOST IMPORTANT IN THE 1950’S AND 1960’S IN ALGERIA (FORMER FRENCH COLONY) WHERE THE FRENCH WOULD SHADILY ADD IT TO SOME BURGUNDIES TO GIVE THEM MORE BODY.    IT MAKES WINES THAT ARE LIGHTER, SOFTER, FRUITIER, AND MORE AROMATIC IN ITS YOUTH THAN SOME OF ITS RED WINE BRETHREN.  USED IN BLENDS, IT ADDS SUPPLENESS, PERFUME, AND YOUNG FRUIT.  IT IS GROWN IN ALGERIA, AUSTRALIA, FRANCE (4TH MOST WIDELY PLANTED VARIETY – MORE THAN CABERNET!!), ITALY, LEBANON (IMPORTANT PART OF THE INDUSTRY), MOROCCO (MOST PLANTED GRAPE), AND THE USA (NOT MUCH AROUND).

OUR GRAPES WERE SOURCED FROM THE WARM BASTION OF RHÔNE VARIETIES IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY – CAMP FOUR VINEYARD.  THIS WINE WAS MADE BY  HAND-PICKING THE GRAPES AND FERMENTING IN A SMALL BOX.  THE FERMENTATION WAS ON SKINS FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS AND PUNCHED DOWN 3 TIMES DAILY.  WE BASKET PRESSED WHEN DRY, THEN MATURED IN  NEUTRAL OLD FRENCH OAK BARRELS.  IT WAS RACKED ONCE.  WE BOTTLED 30 CASES IN DECEMBER OF 2009.  THIS WINE IS APPROACHABLE UPON RELEASE AND SHOULD BE IN ITS PRIME OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS.

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