Spring Wine Selection
Reminder: We keep notes on special requests and requirements, so some of these wines may be different in your personal shipment.
2023 "Flora" Grenache Blanc – Adarato Wines
Too Hot to Cook Night!
You know those summer nights when the stove is your mortal enemy and dinner is whatever’s cold in the fridge? The dog is pancaked on the cool tile, the air conditioning can’t keep up, and you’re eating popsicles over the sink. That’s when it’s time for a bottle of Adarato Grenache Blanc from winemaker Kristin Fione. She made just one stainless steel barrel of this beauty, and I managed to snag most of it for the wine club and the bar. Skip the stove. Take off your shoes. Queue up some Jack Johnson on Pandora. Grab some cold chicken, a caprese salad, or just a random mix of what’s cold in the refrigerator - and open this bottle. It’s everything you want in a white wine when your desire to cook has melted with the ice in your glass.
Ah, summertime...
2021 Zinfandel – Roark Wine Company
4th of July Poolside Viewing of Jaws
Sourced from Old Oak Vineyard in Paso Robles and picked early to preserve its acidity, this Zinfandel from Ryan Roark clocks in at just 13.2% ABV. It’s fresh, bright, and totally crushable.
Since the Fourth is usually a scorcher, you want something that won’t weigh you down - but still plays nice with grilled tri-tip, beans, and garlic bread. Once the sun sets, we kick off our annual tradition: floating in the pool and watching Jaws under the stars. Because - let’s be honest - it’s absolutely a 4th of July movie. Just like Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Yes. Yes, it is.
“We’re gonna need a bigger glass.”
2018 Cote of Paint Pinot Noir
Bastille Day & Santa Barbara French Festival
Cue the accordion, don your red beret, and pour yourself a glass of this très délicieux Pinot Noir from winemaker Kristin Luis and her husband Nick. Their 2018 Cote of Paint Pinot Noir hails from the biodynamically farmed Duvarita Vineyard, just west of the Sta. Rita Hills.
Kristin and Nick don’t take themselves too seriously, but they do make seriously good wine. This bottle has a touch of French charm and a whole lot of Central Coast soul. It’s got the joie de vivre to sip solo and the backbone to stand up to some serious food. At a recent Winemaker’s Brunch at Clean Slate Wine Bar, Chef Melissa paired it with a Duck & Andouille Hash: confit duck leg, andouille sausage, a medley of sweet and russet potatoes, onions, peppers, sour cream, and a poached egg from Sleepy Roads Farm. Oui - it was just as decadent as it sounds.
So come celebrate Bastille Day at the Santa Barbara French Festival… or throw your own fête in the backyard. Whether you're raising a glass to Pinot, liberté, or just enjoying a great bottle with good people - this wine brings all the joie de vivre.
C’est bon, indeed.
Riding Monkey Alicante Bouschet
Celebrate Your Latest Tattoo
This wild red is a teinturier grape - meaning the juice is red, not just the skin. (Most red grapes have clear flesh, but Alicante Bouschet doesn’t play by the rules.) Originally bred in 19th-century France by crossing Grenache with Petit Bouschet, this grape is basically the punk rocker of the vineyard world. Enter Dieter Cronje… I like to say Dieter is cooler than cellar temperature. That he’s like his wines – unfined and unfiltered. This wine has developed a bit of a cult following at Clean Slate Wine Bar - and for good reason. It’s lush but fresh, bold without being heavy, and full of personality. If you’ve been sipping it at the bar, you already know. If this is your first bottle: welcome to the cult. And just like tattoos, you’re probably going to want another one.
P.S. – Our next Winemaker’s Brunch is with Dieter himself. Mark your calendars, because if this wine is any indication, the brunch is going to be epic.
2022 Syrah – Tabalipa Wine Co.
Backyard BBQ Vibe
Only 60 cases made of this bold and beautiful Syrah - and we managed to snag some for the wine club. It’s the inaugural red from Paula Tabalipa and her husband, Michael Greenberg, sourced entirely from their organically farmed estate vineyard in Los Olivos (originally planted by the legendary Dale Hampton). This isn’t your average summer sipper. It’s got depth, soul, and just the right amount of swagger. So what do we pair it with? How about a backyard feast fired up on a classic Santa Maria grill: chicken quarters rubbed in Cajun spice, Portuguese sausage sizzling over oak, Brazilian black beans bubbling away, and sweet corn getting a good char. All served up family-style, with John Pardi on the radio and your flip-flops somewhere in the grass. This Syrah’s got enough structure to hang with the heat, enough freshness to cool down a warm evening, and enough personality to make you wish you’d opened a second bottle.
Pairs well with smoke, spice, and a little country twang.
2023 Malvasia Bianca – Lepiane Wines
Sunday Afternoon Backyard Party
This one’s made for those sun-drenched Sundays when the breeze is lazy, the playlist is mellow, and the only real decision is shade or sun. Winemaker Alison Thomson, a fourth-generation winemaker carrying on a legacy that started with her great-grandfather’s pre-Prohibition winery in Hollister, has created something special here. Grown at Happy Canyon Vineyard and beloved at Clean Slate Wine Bar, this wine can best be described as Spring in a bottle. We once poured a previous vintage with boiled crawfish for Mother’s Day - pure magic. This time, we’re switching it up with chilled crab claws (Chef Melissa’s favorite). Add a few friends in tank tops and baseball caps, toss in a competitive game of Cornhole, and let the afternoon unfold.
Pairs well with sunshine, long afternoons, and the sound of laughter.
Koehler Pinot Gris on Skins
Not Your Average Pinot Gris
Let’s just say this isn’t your grandma’s Pinot Gris (unless your grandma’s listens to the Clash and owns a pottery wheel). While some might call Pinot Gris the most boring of grapes, I can promise you, this skin-contact Pinot Gris from Koehler Winery is anything but.
Hand-destemmed, fermented on the skins for 7 days, and aged on lees in stainless steel barrels for 6 months, this wine has a gorgeous color and is alive with texture, energy, and personality. Winemaker Trace Brueske is leveling up the whole wine program, and with Derek Koehler bringing fresh energy to the family business and Dan Zurliene pouring the wines and spouting his “Dan-isms” (if you know, you know), this release is a perfect example of where Koehler is headed - bold, thoughtful, and a little unexpected.
I did not expect to love this wine, but I do. So while I typically pair chili dogs and baseball games with chilled glass of Rosé, this summer, I’m reaching for a bottle of Koehler Pinot Gris on skins instead. Maybe with a bag of Fritos too, because why not?
Doña Martina Chardonnay – Rancho Viñedo
Santa Barbara Fish Market & A Nod to History
This isn’t just any Chardonnay - it’s a wine with deep roots. Crafted by James Ontiveros, a ninth-generation Californian whose family’s connection to this land predates California itself, this wine is as much about history as it is about exceptional winemaking. Known for his dedication to the land, James is often hailed as one of the most influential farmers in California wine, and this wine is a reflection of that passion.
Whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented in mostly 500L puncheons, Doña Martina Chardonnay is as meticulous as it is delicious. Crisp and clean, with just a touch of oak, it has the body to elevate a good piece of fish - because this wine demands it.
Now, unless you’re planning to charter a boat and go out to sea yourself (and honestly, that sounds like a great idea), the next best thing is a trip to the Santa Barbara Fish Market. Wake up early, get there before the crowds, and score yourself some fresh halibut straight from the boats. Then, invite a few friends over and cook up that halibut however you like - grilled, seared, or even just kissed with lemon and herbs. Crack open a bottle of Doña Martina, and you’ve got a perfect match - this is the kind of Chardonnay that wants to be paired with fresh, local fish.
Pairs well with halibut, ocean breezes, and Saturdays that should never have to end.
Kiss the Jack White Wine Blend – Bocce Ball Wines
Longest Day of the Year
June 21st is the longest day of the year - which means more daylight for eating, drinking, and talking about the weather. And Kiss the Jack is exactly what you want in your glass while doing all three. Open a bottle of this Viognier-based white blend and it somehow vanishes like it’s got places to be. It wasn’t technically made for Cajun food, but it’s oddly perfect with red beans and rice, jambalaya, and so much more. I’ve been known to crush a whole bag of jalapeño chips with this wine - no regrets, no apologies. Made from fruit grown by farmers who also hang out at the wine bar (shoutout to hyper-local sourcing), this wine knows how to show up for summer. I highly recommend keeping a second bottle chilled… because the first one is basically just the amuse-bouche.
Monkey Around Red Wine Blend – Bocce Ball Wines
Exploding Kittens
Some wines are made for candlelit dinners and heartfelt toasts. Monkey Around could be one of them. Or, it could be whatever you want it to be. I designed this wine to be your go-to for backyard grilling, bocce ball tournaments that stretch into the night, and warm summer evenings. It’s a light, fun, unconventional Rhône blend that doesn’t take itself too seriously. While I prefer it chilled, my wife, Chef Melissa, likes it at room temp - and you know what? Both ways work.
It’s the perfect match for a competitive round of Exploding Kittens with friends and family. We play a lot of card games in our house, but this one holds a special place in my heart. I’ve got so many great memories of playing with my wife and sons. It’s our “go-to” after dinner game when Jack visits from the Navy.
So stick it in the fridge, bring it to game night, and get ready to monkey around.
Kaleidos Praying Mantis Grenache
Messy Barbeque Ribs
Some wines make a subtle entrance, others burst through the door. Praying Mantis is the latter. Big, bold, and unapologetically delicious, this Grenache from Steve Martell's estate vineyard in Paso Robles is the kind of wine that demands attention. Steve’s got a knack for farming (and a cool family story), and this wine reflects that passion. Aged for nearly two years in two-thirds new French oak, it’s complex, multi-layered, and absolutely wonderful.
I wasn’t planning on including this in the wine shipment - it’s a bit of a splurge and definitely not your average Grenache. But so many members chose this wine at the pickup party, I felt compelled to include it. This is the kind of wine that demands big, messy ribs - slathered in sticky sauce, devoured with your bare hands, dripping down your face and on to your shirt.
It’s not delicate. It’s not quiet. It’s awesome.
Bocce Ball Chef’s Kiss Rosé of Grenache
Pool Day
Only one stainless-steel barrel made. Named in honor of 23 years of marriage to Chef Melissa. This is a love letter in a bottle. Some wines are made for candlelit dinners. This one is made for sunshine. Chef’s Kiss is what you pour when the pool is sparkling, the towels are warm, and someone’s passing around chips, salsa, and fresh-made guacamole. It’s the kind of Rosé that lives its best life in a cooler next to sunscreen - ready to be opened after a float across the pool or a lazy beach nap. It’s summer in a glass: bright, refreshing, and beautiful.
Anyone who knows Melissa knows she thrives in the sun near the water - on a raft, on the sand, or stretched out under an umbrella with a good book in hand. This wine captures that spirit.
Plan your perfect pool day, throw on your swimsuit, and toast to love, longevity, and the joy of floating with a glass of Chef’s Kiss in hand.