sangria Archives - Cali Coast Wine Country

Ok, so I’m on a Sangria kick now. Living and working on a microfarm is more work than I thought it would be! Sangria is helping me keep it together: some days you just need a light, fruity, slightly sweet pitcher of deliciousness to counter all that chicken poop. Buttonwood Farm & Winery helps me with that.

On a recent trip there to buy peaches and taste wine, I came across 2 great wines for Sangria: the dry Rosé of Syrah (great for a Bloody Rosé Sangria) and the Semi-Semi (semi-sweet Semillon). Semillon is actually the world’s most-oft grown grape, but is typically used for blending. I love to find a Semillon varietal wine, and this one is a special treat!

Here are the tasting notes:

“Light, flavorful and slightly sweet, Semillon shows its delicate side in a sipper of a wine. . A taste delivers a burst of sugarcane-like sweetness, white peach and apple cider notes that are lifted with bright key-lime acidity. Semi-Semi finishes with hints of almond and spun honey.”

Semi-semi, you can be my spun honey.

White Peach Blueberry Sangria recipe

Fresh juice of 1 large lemon
Fresh juice of 1 large peach (or 2 small ones)
10 blueberries
Sugar, to taste
Pineapple sage + blueberry for garnish
Buttonwood Semi-Semi

Note: you can skip the lemon and sugar, and replace with San Pellegrino Lemon sparkling soda for some bubbles!

Muddle the blueberries and the peach and lemon pulp together with all the juices and sugar.
Divide this mixture into 2 glasses.
Top with Buttonwood Semi-Semi and garnish with pineapple sage + a blueberry in each glass. You can add sparkling water or soda as well.
Drink and be delicious! And sweet.

If you live near the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara’s wine country, then you’ve heard of Buttonwood Farm & Winery‘s peaches. As you drive up Alamo Pintado between the charming towns of Los Olivos and Solvang (where we’re known for both wine tasting and Danish kitsch) you can’t miss the sign on the side of the road as it calls your name: “Peaches!”

The peaches at this working farm are big, beautiful and flavorful. And they go fast…make sure to get your peaches before checking out the tasting room, or you might be out of luck for the day! You also might want to pick up a freshly baked peach pie as well, then head into the winery’s tasting room, peaches-in-hand.

Some of my favorite Buttonwood wines are the very Zingy Sauvignon Blanc, done in a style with freshness and bite, and the Cabernet Franc, a spicy and earthy varietal that’s not always easy to find. And summer is the perfect time for the Semi-Semi (Semi-dry Semillon), a slightly sweet light white wine (great for a White Peach Blueberry Sangria), and the Rosé of Syrah, powerhouse of summer.

In fact, the peaches and Rosé inspired me to come up with a garden-fresh summer Sangria concoction to help beat the heat this August. If your August is as dry and dusty as mine, this will quench your thirst, slip you some nutrients and make you happy to do your farming.

Bloody Rosé Sangria Recipe

Fresh juice of 1 large tomato
Fresh juice of 1 large peach (or 2 small ones)
Fresh juice of 1 tangerine or half a large orange
Sugar, to taste
Sage or basil for garnish
Buttonwood Syrah Rosé

Note: you can skip the tangerine/orange and sugar, and replace with San Pellegrino Blood Orange sparkling soda for some bubbles!

Muddle the tomato, peach and tangerine pulp together with all the juices and sugar.
Divide this mixture into 2 glasses.
Top with Buttonwood Syrah Rosé and garnish with herbs. You can add sparkling water or soda as well.
Drink and be refreshed! And go forth and farm…

If you like sweeter sangria, check out my White Peach Blueberry Sangria!