If you’re a student of California wine history, or a fan of Rhône-style wines from France and beyond, or a curious collector who enjoys watching white wines age, then our lunchtime gathering at the University Club in downtown Santa Barbara on a recent Friday would go down in your books as legendary.
At my table were three of California’s preeminent Rhône pioneers, Santa Barbara’s seminal viticulturist, and one of the world’s most respected Rhône experts. We’d come together to discuss and taste 25 white Rhône wines from near and far, dating back to the 1980s all the way up to the present day.
If none of the above appeals to you, perhaps you’ll at least find intrigue in the rarity of our six-man symposium…