Ampelos
Cellars: A Dream that Turned Very Green
Rebecca
and her husband Peter Work
started out in the corporate I.T world. They liked wine a great
deal and would travel around, attending seminars and tastings
to try and learn more about it. They thought it might be nice
to own a vineyard one day, after they retired from the corporate
grind. The idea of cultivating grapes and making wine wasn't
really a pressing notion. They expected it was a long time off.
As fate would have it, though, starting out in the wine industry
came sooner than they thought. In September 2001, the pair was
in New York City. Peter was scheduled to attend a meeting that
morning at the World Trade Center. At the last minute, his meeting
was canceled.
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Ampelos
Cellars' vineyard |
Going
through that experience made them think. Or, perhaps, more accurately,
it caused them not to think so much. "We didn't spend a
whole a lot of time looking at it. We decided that we were going
to get into it and if it didn't work out then it didn't work
out," Rebecca explains.
Starting
up Ampelos Cellars, in Santa Barbara County's
Santa Rita Hills, was a bit nerve racking. They had to wait
several years for the vines to mature and then another two before
they could start selling wine. With checks going out and no
revenue coming back in, Rebecca and Peter had to be mindful
about steps they took. Thus, it was a priority that the techniques
employed in their vineyards ensured the vines were as healthy
as they could possibly be. Rebecca and Peter were always asking
their vineyard consultant about what else they could do, and
towards the end of 2005 he recommend trying biodynamic farming
(biodynamic farming, in a basic nutshell, is a specific type
of organic farming using natural sprays made from the surrounding
land and animals.) Once the pair started using those methods,
it caused them to look much more closely at the life around
them, and they realized just how important it was to focus on
the environment. "We believe in the saying that we didn't
inherit this earth from our parents; we're borrowing it from
our children," Rebecca offers.
From
that point on, Rebecca and Peter's commitment to earth-friendly
farming only grew stronger. When the Central Coast Vineyard
Team, a group that promotes green farming practices, wanted
to start offering a Sustainable Farming Certification
for vineyards, Ampelos Cellars signed on to
be one of the pilot vintners. Going through certification meant
having outside sets of eyes come and evaluate how their vineyards
were farmed. Doing so revealed new techniques for helping to
promote an even healthier Eco-system in their vines they simply
weren't cognizant of before hand. The Work's strong desire to
protect the environment and being able to get feedback from
experts on their approach made certification an extremely positive
experience. So Rebecca and Peter continued. Today, Ampelos
Cellars is the only winery to have organic, sustainable,
and biodynamic farming certifications. As Rebecca puts it, "Our
thinking was that if we are doing all these good things, let's
put some proof in the pudding." When it comes down to it,
thinking that you are doing right by nature and having an outside
authority certify your efforts are two very different things.
Now,
after a ten years, Rebecca and Peter have no regreats about
their decision. While working in I.T, they would start up a
project and then be moved to another one before the work had
been finished. That was simply how things operated. With Ampleos
Cellars, they get to be present and involved every
step of the way. "We're out there during harvest; we're
the one's punching down [during fermentation]; we're the one
doings the bottling," Rebecca explains. Being able to combine
their passion with their careers has been very satisfying. "When
people come in and respond favorably to something we've put
so much work into, it's a great feeling," Rebecca remarks.
The joy of making people happy is a great motivator, and it's
kept the Works striving as best they can to make great wine
and produce it using earth-friendly farming methods. Doing right
by others and themselves has been a great formula. Sticking
with the same approach is sure to being nothing but good things
in the future.
Click
the link to read reviews of Ampelos Cellars'
Pinot
Noir, Syrah,
and Rhone-style
blend.
Ampleos
Cellars Label Reviews
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Ampelos
Cellars 2006 Rho Pinot Noir
Grape(s):
Pinot Noir
Winery: Ampelos Cellars
Region: Santa Barbara
Year: 2006
Special Designation: Rho
Price: 40-45
Review:
Aromas of black cherry and plum are accented by suggestions
of graham-cracker, brown sugar, and vanilla on the nose.
The palate offers rich flavors of plum, cherry, and black
raspberry, along with notes of sweet spice, and cola.
A lush, richly layered wine, fans of dark, supple Pinots
will enjoy this bottle. Pork loin or duck would make for
fine pairings.
Rating: 92
Character: lush fruit,
supple mouthfeel, balanced tannins
Farming Certification: Organic, Sustainability-in-Practice,
Demeter Biodynamic |
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Ampelos
Cellars 2007 Gamma Syrah
Grape(s):
Syrah
Winery: Ampelos Cellars
Region: Santa Barbara
Year: 2007
Special Designation: Gamma
Price: 30-35
Review:
On the nose, aromas of blueberries, cherries, pepper,
and chocolate greet the senses. A sip unfurls flavors
of blueberry and cherry, complicated by suggestions of
pepper, chocolate, and a bit of oak. A wine with rich
dark-fruit flavors, ion harmony with a nice bit of acidic
and bright spice, fans of nicely balanced Sryah will enjoy
this bottle.
Rating: 88
Character: dark fruit,
supple mouthfeel, balanced tannins
Farming Certification: Organic, Sustainability-in-Practice,
Demeter Biodynamic |
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Ampelos
Cellars 2007 Syrache
Grape(s):
Syrah & Grenache
Winery: Ampelos Cellars
Region: Santa Barbara
Year: 2007
Special Designation: Syrache
Price: 25-30
Review:
A lovely nose of blueberries, plum, black cherry aromas
combine with hints of roast nuts, spices, and cocoa. A
sip reveals flavors of blueberry and black cherry, accented
by a bit of pepper, herbs, and a slightly nutty suggestion.
A lush, complex wine, with a medium-body, it's delightful
on its own or when paired with lamb.
Rating: 91
Character: lush fruit,
supple mouthfeel, balanced tannins
Farming Certification: Organic, Sustainability-in-Practice,
Demeter Biodynamic |
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
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By
Jason Barlow
www.ampeloscellars.com/
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