2019 Hitching Post Hometown Pinot Noir

About 2019 Hitching Post Hometown Pinot Noir

About Hitching Post Hometown Pinot Noir 2019:

Hitching Post Hometown Pinot Noir is a wine that is both elegant and full-bodied, with concentrated dark fruit and ripe pear flavors. It has a rich and lingering finish, complemented by a substantial mouthfeel. This wine is the winery’s early indicator of the vintage, showcasing the purity of fruit flavors.

• Tasting Notes:

In particular this wine excels with aromas of ripe strawberries, a hint of spice, and bright mineral notes.

• Growing Notes:

Early bottling of Santa Barbara County Hitching Post Pinot Noir indeed showcases the delicious fruit of young Pinot, and the balance and seduction of the vintage. This three valley blend replaces the Cork Dancer 7.1, with grapes sourced from the same vineyards near Los Alamos, Santa Maria, and Sta. Rita Hills.

Pinot Noir is the second-most planted grape in Santa Barbara County, just behind Chardonnay. It thrives in cooler areas of the region, namely in the of the Sta. Rita Hills. In addition part of Santa Barbara’s larger Santa Ynez Valley sub-appellation. Thought for decades to be too cool for viticulture, Sta. Rita Hills began to gain notoriety in the 1970’s, thanks to the pioneering work of Richard Sandford and Michael Benedict, among others.

• Story Behind the Winery:

Leading the Hitching Post Wines team are the creators and two long-time friends, Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini, who have been making wines in Santa Barbara County, California since 1979.

Long before Hollywood discovered the winemaking landmark and its excellent wines, Gray Hartley, a former Alaskan salmon fisherman and Frank Ostini, chef and owner of the famed Hitching Post Restaurant in Buellton, were brought together by their love of wine and winemaking. Over the years their backyard hobby has turned into a highly acclaimed winemaking enterprise.

In 1981 they discovered the wonders of Santa Barbara Pinot Noir; since then Pinot has been their primary focus. However their flagship wine is the Hitching Post Highliner. The “Highliner” is the best fishermen in the fleet, and this name honors the great men of the Alaskan Salmon Fishery alongside whom Gray Hartley worked for 28 years.

• Highliner:

A special wine. Undoubtedly Highliner is meant to be the “best of their fleet” of Pinot Noirs. Along with ten selections of Pinot Noir. Hitching Post produces a dry Rosé called Pinks, a Syrah, and a Merlot-based red named Gen Red.

Then came Sideways in 2004, the Academy Award® winning film set in Santa Barbara wine country. Prominently featuring The Hitching Post 2 and Hitching Post Wines. Since exposure in the movie, Hitching Post wines have gained in popularity. Currently, the winery has 12,000 barrels and produces about 17,000 cases a year.

• Hartley and Ostini:

Hartley and Ostini strive to furthermore create flavorful handcrafted wines that possess poise and balance. Putting a slice of Santa Barbara in each glass.  A piece of their soul in every bottle of Hitching Post.