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What We Say 2009 Bacia Blanca
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Mission Codename: The Kiss
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Revisit Teri Love, owner and winemistress extraordinaire at Gioia Winery, procure her unique white Blend, the delicious 2009 Bacia Blanca
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Gioia Winery
Wine Subject: 2009 Bacia Blanca
Winemaker: Teri Love
Regional Backgrounder:
Santa Barbara County’s wines may have become famous by the movie Sideways, but the tradition of wine growing and winemaking dates back to the Spanish missionaries but after prohibition many of the vines disappeared. In the early 1970s vines began to reappear and in just a few years, however unlikely, the region began to develop a reputation for producing exceptional Burgundian varietals rivaling Oregon and New Zealand in the production of exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Today’s selection is a blend, mostly of Chardonnay but with a little Muscat Alexander and Pinot Gris.
Varietal Backgrounder: Chardonnay is arguably the greatest of all white grape varietals, showing its influence in the legendary sparkling wines of Champagne, the great whites of Burgundy and of course its expression as ‘the’ white wine of California. Chardonnay represents over 50% of the planted white grapes in California with nearly 100,000 acres planted. With such a great number of wines made from this grape, it stands to reason that finding wines of immense quality would be hard, but look no further.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Brilliantly clear with straw yellow and gold tints with a slight greenish hue when held to the light. Pale along the edges and when swirled, medium thick legs cling to the side of the glass.
Smell – Fresh, ripe and approachable, this wine showcases a variety of summer tree fruit including pear, white peach and apricot framed in a soft sweet toasted and creamy oak frame. Hints of floral white and honeysuckle and sweet spice also make their appearance.
Feel – Smooth and moderately creamy in texture, this nearly dry medium-to-full bodied white has is round with tangy acidity.
Taste – The same tree fruit found on the nose along with hints of mandarin orange blend with creamy soft vanilla and sweet oak, sweet spice and fragrant floral notes.
Finish – Smooth and clean with its ripe and fresh fruit fading lingering and then gently fading.
Conclusion – The 2009 Gioia Winery Bacia Blanca is a delicious and very approachable white with a slightly sweet framework and a lovely and fresh nose. Not to serious, but your first kiss should never be too serious. A perfect wine to enjoy as an aperitif with fresh and ripe cheeses and savory cured meat. Drink this wine right away or for the next year or two.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Teri Love
WINE EDUCATION: Real-life experience – tasting wines all over the world; Apprenticing under Jim Porter of KLJ Cellars.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: The fruit speaks for itself.
WINEMAKER QUOTE: “In wine there is truth”, Latin proverb
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: September 2009
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Greetings, Teri. We are thrilled to be showing your 2009 Paso Robles Bacia Bianca, today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
TERI: Happy to be back with you, again. Happy Memorial Day!
RED: And to you! Tell me, was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
TERI: Wine makes the most wonderful occasion even better.
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
TERI: Jim Porter – his palate and talent are enviable.
RED: Who do you make wine for?
TERI: Myself – if I am loving the taste chances are good that others will as well
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
TERI: 2009 Paso Robles Bacia Bianca is the perfect Spring and Summer wine. It is a divinely delicious white blend, made up of Chardonnay, Muscat Alexander & Pinot Gris. Upon raising your glass you will be greeted by an enchanting snoot full of fragrant spring flowers with the taste of crisp green apples, juicy pears, silky honeysuckle with a finish of sweet dried apricots. Named after my Italian Greyhound Bacia, this wine is a perfect combination of opulent beauty & charming elegance. It is loaded with playful personality – just like its namesake.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
TERI: Bacia Bianca allows spicy as well as delicate foods to be their best. Baked, fried, grilled or roasted chicken with avocado. Grilled salmon with mango salsa, any white fish baked, grilled or poached. Desserts are exceptional with this wine – fruit – fresh or dried, poached pears, pecan pie, soufflés, panna cotta, gingerbread, pumpkin cheesecake, rhubarb & strawberries, peaches, pears, dark chocolate & cherries on top of mocha gelato with fresh nutty biscotti.
RED: In your opinion, what makes Santa Maria region so special?
TERI: Everything about growing wonderful juicy grapes comes down to weather & climate. Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County) has a very long growing season due to the narrow temperature swings between evening and day. During the growing season, the temperatures range from 55 to 75 degrees rather than becoming too hot in the afternoon. The growing season begins 3 to 4 weeks earlier than up north and Harvest is 45 to 60 days longer than more northern regions, which makes for outstanding Chardonnay and other white varietals.
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
TERI: We are in the process of sourcing out new and unique grapes to blend together for our next delightfully different & yummy offering from Gioia Wine. Please stay thirsty!!
RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
TERI: With an open mind and an empty glass
RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
TERI: Enjoy and share the Gioia!
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
What the Winery Says
Gioia Wines
About This Wine:
Silky, opulent, enchanting snoot full of spring flowers, tastes of crisp green apples, sweet juicy pears & honeysuckle.
The Chardonnay grapes were harvested on Oct. 5, 2009 & yielded 5.0 tons per acre. The grape clusters were gracious & produced 154 gallons of grape juice per ton, providing plenty of concentrated flavors in the finished wine.
The Chardonnay was whole cluster pressed into a 300 gallon tank & cold stabilized for 24 hours before racking into barrels. The primary QA23 & Me yeast were added directly to the juice. These strains are specific for developing the aromatic production of fresh fruity aromas & blossom notes in the finished wine.
After primary fermentation finished, the wine was inoculated with CH35 cultures to start the secondary malolactic fermentation.
The wine aged in French Oak barrels for 9 months.
About The Winery:
GIOIA Italian for JOY
The inspiration for GIOIA was born from the joy my son Tyler brings to my life.
He studied abroad for a year in Florence, Italy, cherishing every second of his time there. Making the most of learning the language, traveling extensively…getting into the spirit of Italy.
GIOIA is in honor and memory of his strength, his loyalty, how fiercely he loved life, his family, his friends, animals and his ability to embrace each day with open arms.
Ty showed me by example, to enjoy a great glass of wine while appreciating a gorgeous view in a tropical locale, snow covered mountains, pounding surf, or just chillin at home.
Every moment was an occasion to be celebrated, whether traveling, racing down a ski slope, hiking with our dogs, scoring a perfect ace in tennis, smacking a golf ball, dunking a basketball, riding his bicycle for hours, working out at the gym, dining at his favorite Italian restaurants, shopping for the coolest clothes and Italian shoes, hanging with his friends, enjoying and appreciating his girlfriend….all the while, laughing at himself, never taking life too seriously.
To say he was a joy to be around is a supreme understatement.
Tyler was taken from this world, along with one of his closest childhood friends (Keith Naylor) at the age of 22 on November 12th, 2005.
He was doing another of his favorite pastimes, driving his Ducati. Keith was on the back of the bike that night. They were going to visit friends.
A motorist pulled out from a parked position on the side of the road, in front of them, with no warning. He made an illegal U-Turn across two sets of double yellow lines on the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, California. This act ended the lives of these beautiful, dynamic, vital, amazing young men.
My reason for sharing this tragedy, is to reach out to others. I implore everyone to welcome joy into your lives. Take nothing for granted.
Please honor and appreciate all of your relationships. Open your hearts and arms to all of your loved ones. Enjoy what life has to offer.
Share the GIOIA
LUMU (Tyler’s signature sign off) “Love U Miss U”
Tyler’s Mama – Teri Love
Technical Analysis:
Varietals: 77% Chardonnay 20% Muscat Alexander 3% Pinot Gris (from Continental Vineyard in Paso Robles)
Appellation: Santa Barbara County Fresno County Paso Robles
Harvest Date: Oct. 5 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 2009
Fermentation: In the barrel with QA23 & M2 yeasts
Aging: 9 months in barrels
pH: 3.48
Titratable Acidity: .69g/100ml
Alcohol: 13.5%
56 cases produced
