Discovering Palmina Winery

My friend Ann Beckner and I were off to wine taste, not far from my home in Camarillo. It was October and the trees in the Lompoc area were turning and fall colors were everywhere. Ann was actually at work as a representative of Wine Warehouse. I was in search of wineries for my wine group, WINO. Our first stop was Palmina. From the minute I walked in the door I knew I was at home in this winery – and it would make a great candidate for an upcoming WINO dinner. We were greeted by Matt and Alacia and immediately felt the warmth of the establishment. We gathered by a comfortable table and shared wine with the usual Italian accompaniments of salami, bread, and cheese.

Palmina was founded by Steve Clifton in 1995 and named for his friend who lived the Italian life style but sadly lost her battle with breast cancer. Clifton’s life-changing moment came when he was in need of a translator for Italian visitors. Along came Chrystal Seals. They shared a love of wine, food and the feeling of family and friends brought about by the sharing of wine. Chrystal soon became a part of the winery and she and Steve were married in Friuli, Italy, in the spring of 2004. Their stated philosophy is, “wine is an extension of the plate, a component of the meal and a means to bring people together.”

Palmina specializes in Italian varietals. The winery wants consumers to know these traditional Italian varietals are modern by design because of the very unique characteristics of the soil and climate of Santa Barbara County. Palmina keeps its production small so it can continue its commitment to high quality production.

For those of you who don’t know me, my husband Ken passed away 10 years ago. His family was from a small town in the Venice, Italy, area (Bartlett was Bortolotti prior to Ellis Island) so I am well acquainted with Northern Italian style of cooking (Ken was a wonderful cook!). I can see how well the Palmina wines fit that cuisine with its wide range of varietals, from the delicate Pinot Grigio to the full-bodied and robust Nebbiolo. I found their wines very drinkable and of excellent quality. I am anxious to see what Chef Jorge Espinosa will come up with in a menu to complement these vintages at the WINO dinner featuring Palmina.

This morning I opened an e-mail from the group Learn About Wine, a source for wine education. They are advertising an event in which they will taste the Top 20 wines of 2009, general admission $95. As I looked down the list of the Top Ten Palmina’s 2005 Nebbiolo with 95 points. What a treat for WINO – we get to taste their wine accompanied by a delicious meal for $69! On February 21 we will meet at the Courtyard Marriott in Oxnard at 5:30 p.m. As soon as I have a menu from Chef Jorge I will put it on my web site.