
2021 Skyenna Ballard Canyon Syrah
Tasting Notes:
This 2021 Syrah is from Terra Alta Vineyard, Ballard Canyon. This complex and well-structured Syrah is representative of the vineyard itself. It has rich flavors of red and black fruits, with hints of pepper and spice. The wine's bold flavors and acidity make it the perfect company for a meal.
Skyenna Wines:
Skyenna is a small production, family-owned and operated winery in Santa Barbara, California. The origin of the name Skyenna is a tribute to owners Lenny and Susanne Germano’s two daughters, Skyla and Sienna. The winery focuses on prime vineyard sites to ensure the highest quality fruit, with a combination of tradition and innovation, to bring out the best characteristics of the grapes.
Syrah:
The Rhône Valley in France is undoubtedly Syrah’s home. In fact, in the Northern Rhône, it is the only permitted red wine grape. Syrah is a big, lush, rustic grape that has been described by the famous British scholar George Saintsbury as the “manliest grape”. Syrah is a lush, complex wine that has the fruit, body, and alcohol of a Cabernet Sauvignon with much softer tannins. It has flavors of leather, earth, wild blackberries, smoke, roasted meats, and pepper.
Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara:
Ballard Canyon is the first and currently the only Syrah focused AVA in the United States. Officially established in 2013 the region is 7,700 acres total and just 550 acres planted to vine the region accounts for just 10% of the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA.
In 2010, six Ballard Canyon wineries hosted a sommelier seminar focused on the areas specialty, Syrah. Preparing for the event, teaching and tasting each others wines brough this group closer together and led the revelation that their small corner of Santa Barbara was unique.
Today there are 17 vineyard members of the Ballard Canyon Winegrowers Alliance, 9 of which produce and bottle their own wines. Over half of the AVA's planted acerage is Syrah and an additional 30% of the acres are planted to other Rhone varieties including Grenache, Viognier and Roussanne.
Food & Wine Pairing:
New world examples of Syrah pair nicely with both meat and fowl, pork especially is a great match with some of these more fruit-forward wines. Overall, Syrah is a big alcohol wine so you need food to match that, nothing tame or timid.Syrah also pairs well with dishes that have a coarse texture as well as anything with pungent flavors like gamey meats or strong cheese.
Red meats, game and goat based dishes work well with the medium to high tannin profile. Vegetarian options include grilled mushrooms, eggplant lasagne and lentil-based burgers. It is definitely a go to wine for any BBQ.