summer fun with NEW Benefits & new wines
Summer is here at Sunstone, and our vineyard is enjoying the warm days of the Santa Ynez Valley. Over the next few months, the grapes will continue to ripen, preparing for the upcoming harvest and another unforgettable vintage of Sunstone wine.
Your Summer break isn’t complete without a visit to Sunstone—come enjoy some of your time off with us. Our exciting schedule of events offers something special for everyone. Here’s what we have planned through summer and into fall!
Exciting Events at the Estate
- July 19th: Villa Open House- Free Tour
- July 25th: Winemaker Dinner in La Cav Tickets Running Out!
- August 8th to 10th: Rapsodie Release Weekend
- August 30th: Summer White Party
- September 27th: STOMP Member Harvest Party Tickets on Sale August 5th!
- October 25th: Halloween Movie Night
- November 1st: Haunted Ball: Angels & Demons
Wine Club “Swap” with Carhartt
As we indicated to you in an email at the beginning of the month, we are bringing back the “member swaps” benefit in collaboration with other local wineries.
Throughout July, Sunstone members can enjoy their complimentary tasting benefit at our neighbor, Carhartt Family Wines, just ten minutes down the road. It’s our way of saying thank you by extending your member perks beyond Sunstone, creating even more memorable wine-tasting experiences for you at no extra cost.
To take advantage of this complimentary tasting for two at Carhartt, simply show them the email by July 31. Stay tuned, as we hope to bring you even more special partnerships like this in the future!
New Summer Shipping Option
Wine’s biggest enemy is heat. Shipping wine during the hot summer months has always posed challenges, as prolonged exposure to high temperatures has the potential to negatively impact the quality of your wines. Traditionally, we have addressed this issue by shipping your wines with dry ice packs capable of keeping your wine cool for up to 48 hours. Sometimes though, wines occasionally arrived overheated if shipments took longer than anticipated.
We’re excited to announce that we now offer two additional solutions to safeguard your wine during warm weather. First, for destinations outside California, you can choose to have your wine shipped via a temperature-controlled, refrigerated shipping option for an additional $5.00, ensuring ideal conditions all the way to your local delivery hub. Alternatively, you can choose to delay your shipment entirely, selecting a future date when temperatures are cooler, or simply combine it with your next Fall shipment at no additional cost.
To utilize one of these two new options, just reach out to us at club@sunstonewinery.com.
Your Summer Club Release
On to the details of your next wine shipment!
All Signature Club members will receive the newly released 2023 Rapsodie, our signature Rhone-style GSM blend with the jazzy art label, as well as the new 2022 Alectrona blend. Members that have chosen the Mixed option will also receive the 2023 Chardonnay Reserve, while Red Only members will also receive the new 2022 Soleil Rouge.
Thank you again for your continued support. Read below for more details on all the wines in your upcoming release. Cheers!
Chardonnay Reserve
Retail: $45
| Grape Blend and Source | 100% Chardonnay Spear Vineyard & Hilltop Ranch Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills |
|---|---|
| Technical Specs | pH: 3.48 Acidity: 5.67 g/L Alcohol: 13.2% 9 months in 100% three-year-old French oak barrels |
| Case Production | 287 |
| Tasting Notes | This intriguing Chardonnay is a symphony of flavors, where delicate notes of white tea leaves, light tobacco smoke, and cedar elegantly intertwine with the bright zest of lemon rind and the sweetness of dried apricots. With a velvety texture reminiscent of white peach tea, it culminates in a lingering finish that's rich and satisfying, featuring hints of dried pineapple, cloves, black licorice, and a touch of chicory bark. The wine shows a floral, tropical, green apple refreshing balance in the front palate and remains smooth in the middle and finish. |
| Winemaking Notes | Hand-harvested on October 5th, 2023, from Spear Vineyard and Hill Top Ranch in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Our team whole cluster pressed the fruit and fermented for 12 days before racking to two-year-old French Oak barrels to complete secondary malolactic fermentation as a blend of two vineyards. CY3079 and BA11 yeasts were selected to enhance sensory aroma and characteristics of butter, honey, almonds, pineapple, and floral expressions. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation to reduce sharp malic acidity and was aged in 100% three-year-old French Oak barrels for 9 months before bottling in July 2024. |
| Food Pairing | Seafood Risotto with chardonnay pan seared bay scallops, large shrimp, pea shoots, drizzle basil garlic lemon zest pesto, sprinkled with parmesan cheese |
| Cellaring | The 2023 Chardonnay Reserve can be enjoyed now and for the next two years, best consumed while fresh and vibrant. It is not a candidate for long term aging. |
Rapsodie
Retail: $70
| Grape Blend and Source | 54% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre Nolan Vineyard, Alisos Canyon |
|---|---|
| Technical Specs | pH: 3.82 Acidity: 5.2 g/L Alcohol: 14% 20 months in 45% new French oak, 20% new American oak, 35% neutral oak |
| Case Production | 679 cases |
| Tasting Notes | This expressive Rhône-style blend is deeply layered and beautifully balanced. Aromatics lead with a floral lift of lavender, supported by vibrant red berries, peppercorn, spice, and subtle hints of espresso and cedar. The palate is rich yet elegant, showing soft tannins, moderate acidity, and a generous mid-palate of licorice, ripe cherry, and cocoa. The finish is long and refined, with lingering notes of toasted oak, earth, and dark chocolate, revealing complexity from both terroir and extended barrel aging. |
| Winemaking Notes | Hand-harvested on October 16th, 2023, from Nolan Vineyard in the Alisos Canyon AVA, all three varietals were co-fermented in a single stainless-steel tank to build complexity and harmony from the start. After a cold soak, fermentation began using ICV-GRE and BM45 yeasts, selected to enhance aromatic intensity, mid-palate weight, and tannin structure. Following fermentation, the wine was gently pressed, settled, and racked into French and American oak barrels. Full malolactic fermentation softened the acidity and added a rounder mouthfeel. The wine was bottled on June 19th, 2025. |
| Food Pairing | Roasted Duck & Apricot Cassoulet, garlic mashed potatoes and sesame orange dressing drizzled over finely chopped kale, green apple, currant salad |
| Cellaring | The 2023 Rapsodie can be enjoyed for the next 5-7 years if stored in optimal conditions. |
Alectrona
Retail: $45
| Grape Blend and Source | 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Petit Verdot, 13% Cabernet Franc Defiance Vineyard, Paso Robles |
|---|---|
| Technical Specs | pH: 3.63 Acidity: 5.5 g/L Alcohol: 14.4% 20 months in 45% new French oak, 55% neutral oak |
| Case Production | 400 cases |
| Tasting Notes | This Left Bank-inspired, Bordeaux-style blend is structured yet refined. Aromas of black pepper, blackberry, boysenberry, dried cherries, and cloves, complement notes of tobacco leaf, fig, espresso, and dark chocolate. On the palate, this wine has medium-heavy tannins, balanced acidity, and a generous core of plum, licorice, and cocoa. The finish is long and layered, with lingering notes of toasted oak, dark chocolate, and a subtle minerality. |
| Winemaking Notes | Hand-harvested on October 10th, 2022, from Defiance Vineyard in the Paso Robles AVA, all three varietals were co-fermented in a single stainless-steel tank, allowing them to develop in harmony from the outset. After a brief cold soak to enhance color and phenolic extraction, fermentation commenced using BM45 yeast, selected for its ability to elevate aromatic complexity, structure, and mid-palate depth. Post-fermentation, the wine was gently pressed, settled, and racked into French oak barrels. Full malolactic fermentation softened the acidity and enriched the mouthfeel. The wine was bottled on June 20th, 2025. |
| Food Pairing | Maple bacon burger layered with caramelized onions, melted ghost pepper jack cheese, garlic-cilantro aioli, and a side of crispy steak fries |
| Cellaring | The 2022 Alectrona can be enjoyed now and for the next 4-6 years if stored in optimal conditions. |
Soleil Rouge
Retail: $45
| Grape Blend and Source | 62% Sangiovese, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc Lucas & Lewellen Vineyard (Los Alamos), Valley View Vineyard (Santa Ynez), and Santa Ynez Vineyard (Happy Canyon) |
|---|---|
| Technical Specs | pH: 3.62 Acidity: 5.9 g/L Alcohol: 14.2% 17 months in French oak (20% new) |
| Case Production | 669 cases |
| Tasting Notes | This Super Tuscan-style blend opens with floral aromas of dried lavender, mingling with red plum, raspberry, blackberry, cracked pepper, and nuances of tobacco leaf, cocoa nibs, espresso, and cedar. On the palate, supple tannins meet moderate acidity, complemented by notes of ripe plum, cherry, licorice, and cocoa, leading to a long, spicy finish. |
| Winemaking Notes | Hand-harvested between October 5th to 26th, 2022, from three distinct vineyards across Santa Barbara County, each varietal was fermented separately in stainless steel tanks to retain its character, then blended on February 27, 2024, and aged together for 17 months in French oak. The winemaking process included a 2-4-day cold soak to extract deep color and complexity, followed by fermentation with D80 and BM45 yeast strains, selected to enhance aromatic intensity, mid-palate texture, and tannin structure. After pressing and settling, the wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and was bottled on June 20, 2025. |
| Food Pairing | Italian venison stew with whole baby tomatoes, chard, garlic, mushroom, rosemary, thyme and slow cooked with red wine. Serve over herbed saffron risotto, or garlic cheesy polenta |
| Cellaring | the 2022 Soleil Rouge can be enjoyed now and for the next 4-6 years if stored in optimal conditions. |
