It is my pleasure to share the Sea Smoke wines, first founded in 1999 by Bob Davids in Santa Barbara County, California. The winery is named after the cooling fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean. After great success and acquiring Rita’s Crown Vineyard, Sea Smoke was sold to Constellation in 2024. Over the years that wines have been consistently great and certainly helped put Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir on the map. They continue to farm 80 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay plantings.
They make a rare, rich and dense sparkling wine. I love the new I adored the 2023 Sea Smoke ‘Southing’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which is loaded with crunchy red fruits. Learn more about these outstanding wines at seasmoke.com and here is my review of the new releases by Sea Smoke.
2020 Sea Smoke ‘Sea Spray’ Sparkling Wine- Sourced from their estate vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, this 2020 ‘Sea Spray’ spent 12 months in neutral French oak before disgorgement. This is wonderfully salty with pear and nectarine notes alongside suggestions of ginger and starfruit. Neatly-textured and showing plenty of tension, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2023 Sea Smoke ‘Southing’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous 2023 ‘Southing’ is wonderfully nervy and refined, with a smooth mouthfeel. It is loaded with salty and tart red fruits with menthol and rocky edges. The plump richness of the wine makes this really sing alongside good tension. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94