The Estate Is Evolving and Summer Is the Perfect Time to See It
Summer is in full swing at the Sunstone Estate. The vines are full with fruit, working through the final weeks before veraison, that brief window when the grapes begin flushing with color and the countdown to harvest officially begins. It’s the most beautiful time of year to be here- there are more reasons than ever to come…and maybe even stay the night.
In Case You Missed It: The Sunstone Cottage Is Now Open
A little more than a month ago, we officially announced the opening of the Sunstone Cottage, our brand-new overnight accommodation situated right here on the Estate, adjacent to the vineyards and the iconic Sunstone Villa. If you haven’t had a chance to visit or book yet, here’s what’s waiting: each suite features limestone floors, a spa-inspired bathroom, Mascioni Italian linens, and L’Occitane bath essentials. Outside, the private Cottage Lawn, Porch, and Common Courtyard offer lounge seating, a 10-seat dining table, and a fire pit, with the Estate’s vineyards open for exploring on foot.
The Cottage features three beautifully appointed suites- The Champagne Suite, The Rhône Suite, and The Bordeaux Suite- each available individually or combined for groups of up to 10. Now through December 31, 2026, book 2 nights and get your 3rd night free. Go to SunstoneVilla.com for rates and availability. There’s never been a better reason to book that long weekend getaway and enjoy a wine country retreat unlike anything else in the Valley.
A Summer of Change in the Vineyard
The first phase of our multi-year replanting program is now complete, and if you’ve visited recently, you may have noticed some sections of the vineyard looking a little different as the newly grafted vines get established. Over the next couple of weeks, our remaining mature vines will begin veraison, when the grapes start transitioning from green to deep, rich color.
Because of this year’s grafting and vine removal, we expect a lighter harvest than usual, but what this vintage may lack in volume it will make up for in the quality and character our Estate consistently delivers. We think that’s a worthwhile trade for what those new vines will eventually bring, including the Estate Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc that we can’t wait to pour for you in the years ahead.
Still Setting the Table
An update on the culinary front: as we communicated in our Spring newsletter, we had hoped to have our new full-service kitchen and dining experience open for you this summer. But we’ve made the decision to take a bit more time to get every detail right, and we now expect to open toward the end of the year.
This has been one of the most anticipated additions to the Sunstone experience, and we’re committed to making sure it lives up to that. Thank you for your patience. The announcement is coming, and it’ll be worth it.
Rapsodie Release Weekend & Upcoming Events
The big event of the season is just around the corner: Rapsodie Release Weekend, July 31st through August 2nd. This is your opportunity to pick up your Summer shipment in person, raise a glass to the new release of our signature Rhône-style GSM blend, and enjoy the estate at its summer best.
Looking ahead, mark your calendar for the Summer White Party on Labor Day Weekend, STOMP on September 26th (a members-only harvest celebration you don’t want to miss), and the Haunted Ball on October 30th. The second half of 2026 is shaping up to be one for the books, and we look forward to celebrating it with you.
Your Summer Shipment
All Signature Club members will receive the newly released 2023 Rapsodie Reserve, our signature Rhône-style GSM blend with the “jazzy” art label, as well as our 2021 Nolan Vineyard Mourvèdre, rated 91 points by Wine Enthusiast.
Members that have chosen the Reds Only option will also receive the new 2023 Alectrona Bordeaux-style blend. Members that have chosen the Mixed option will also receive the new 2025 Viognier, SBC.
Thank you again for your continued support. Read below for more details on all the wines in your upcoming release. Cheers!
Viognier, SBC
Retail: $35
| Grape Blend and Source | 100% Viognier Carrari Vineyard (92%) and Sunstone Estate Vineyard (8%) |
|---|---|
| Tasting Notes | Apricot, lemon and orange peel, and white flowers are prominent on the nose, creating an inviting and expressive bouquet. On the palate, the acidity is bright and lively, accentuating the citrus notes and lending a refreshing, mouthwatering quality. |
| Winemaking Notes | Most of the fruit for the 2025 Viognier, SBC was harvested from Carrari Vineyard in Los Alamos on October 7th, 2025. This vineyard has warm days and cool nights, shaped by the nearby coastal influence, allowing for slow, even ripening that preserves the variety's signature aromatics. A small amount of Viognier from the Sunstone Estate vineyard was blended in to provide additional complexity. Fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and neutral oak barrels, the wine strikes a balance between freshness and texture.
Extended time on fine lees adds natural preservation and depth, while regular bâtonnage, the gentle stirring of lees back into the wine, builds a creamy, layered richness on the palate. A partial malolactic conversion softens the natural malic acid, lending the wine a supple, round mouthfeel without sacrificing its bright, lively character.The wine was bottled to 629 cases in June 2026. |
| Food Pairing | Honey-Ginger Glazed Shrimp Skewers with Apricot and Lime, and Citrus-Herb Couscous with Toasted Almonds and Orange Zest |
| Technical Specs | pH: 3.32 Acidity: 6.7 g/L Alcohol: 13.5% 8 months in 72% Stainless Steel and 28% neutral French oak barrels |
| Case Production | 629 |
| Cellaring | The 2025 Viognier, SBC can be enjoyed now and for up to an additional 18 months if stored in proper conditions. It is not a candidate for long term aging. |
Rapsodie Reserve
Retail: $70
| Grape Blend and Source | 47% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre Vineyards: Nolan, Rancho Del Prado, Coquelicot, La Presa, and Hill Top |
|---|---|
| Tasting Notes | Black cherry, red plum, and hints of blueberry rise from the glass, lifted by warm baking spice and subtle notes of dried herbs and cedar. On the palate, the red fruits are vibrant and focused, accented by a whisper of white pepper and framed by a taut, structured backbone. The tannins are well integrated and refined, carrying the wine to a lingering, expressive finish. |
| Winemaking Notes | The 2023 harvest brought an unusual abundance of fruit, handing us a rare opportunity to craft two distinct expressions of Rapsodie from a single vintage. The original 2023 Rapsodie, released in 2025, was sourced from a single vineyard and led by Grenache at 54%.
The 2023 Rapsodie Reserve takes a different path: Syrah steps forward at 40% (compared to 28% in the original blend), while Grenache eases back to 47% and Mourvèdre plays a lighter supporting role. Sourced from five vineyards across three AVAs and aged several months longer, the 2023 Rapsodie Reserve offers a deeper, more layered counterpoint to its predecessor. Two different voices from one remarkable vintage.
Grenache from Hill Top Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills and Rancho Del Prado and La Presa vineyards in the Los Olivos District, was blended with Syrah from Coquelicot Vineyard in Santa Ynez and Syrah and Mourvèdre from Nolan Vineyard in Alisos Canyon to create the 2023 Rapsodie Reserve. All fruit was harvested and fermented separately between October 11th and November 3rd, 2023 and blended in early 2026 before being bottled to 558 cases in June 2026. |
| Food Pairing | Garlic-Herb Lamb Loin Chops with Black Cherry & Rosemary Pan Sauce, and White Bean and Spinach Sauté with Garlic and Smoked Paprika |
| Technical Specs | pH: 3.77 Acidity: 5.9 g/L Alcohol: 14.2% 30 months in French oak (13% New, 8% 2yr, 79% neutral) |
| Case Production | 558 |
| Cellaring | The 2023 Rapsodie Reserve can be enjoyed now and will continue to develop for another 6-10 years if stored in optimal conditions. |
Mourvèdre
Retail: $45
| Grape Blend and Source | 100% Mourvèdre Nolan Vineyard |
|---|---|
| Tasting Notes | This wine's aroma resembles blackberry, boysenberry, dried blueberry, tobacco, black peppercorn, passion fruit, and mission figs. The characteristics of this wine are huckleberry, blackberry, passion fruit, dragon fruit, raspberry, cranberry, espresso, black pepper, and tobacco leaves. |
| Winemaking Notes | Sunstone’s 2021 Mourvedre was hand-harvested from Nolan Vineyard in the Alisos Canyon AVA, in Santa Barbara County. During harvest in October 2021, our team crushed, cold soaked, fermented, and pressed the Mourvedre.
Our winemaker’s yeast(s) of choice was D80, which enhances sensory and tannin notes by enlightening the characters of boysenberry, dark plum, fresh figs, black pepper, tobacco, licorice, and tropical dragon fruit.
The wine was sent through malolactic fermentation to reduce the malic acidity.
This wine shows many layers from the elevation and terroir of our vineyard soils and minerals. The tannin texture is soft and dry, and it broadcasts its dominance of blackberry, dragon fruit, passion fruit, black pepper, dark berry, tobacco leaves, and spice characters. It remains complex from start to finish. Our blend was aged in 20% New French Oak for 22 months before bottling in August 2023. |
| Food Pairing | Barbecued Beef Tips |
| Technical Specs | PH: 3.77 Acidity: 6.0 g/L Alcohol: 13.7% Aged 22 months in 20% New French Oak, and 80% Neutral Oak |
| Case Production | 485 |
| Cellaring | This wine can be enjoyed now and for up to an additional 5-8 years if stored in proper conditions. |
Alectrona
Retail: $45
| Grape Blend and Source | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot, 2% Malbec Defiance Vineyard (Paso Robles), Sunstone Estate Vineyard, Rancho Canãda Vineyard |
|---|---|
| Tasting Notes | Dried plum, fig and herbs lead the way on a rich, layered nose, framed by warm baking spice, slight cedar and a seductive hint of espresso. On the palate, this Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style blend is silky with fine tannins that give texture, leading to a long and generous finish. |
| Winemaking Notes | The five varietals in the Left Bank-inspired 2023 Alectrona were sourced from three vineyards across two AVAs between October 13th and 19th, 2023. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot- collectively comprising 96% of the wine- were sourced from Defiance Vineyard in Paso Robles. Small amounts of Merlot from the Sunstone Estate Vineyard in Santa Ynez and Malbec from the Rancho Canãda Vineyard in the Los Olivos District were blended in to add some mid-palate roundness, aromatic lift, and freshness to make it complete and approachable. The wine was bottled in June 2026 to 486 cases. |
| Food Pairing | Espresso-Dusted Flat Iron Steak with a Fig Glaze, and Rosemary-Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges with a Honey-Thyme Drizzle |
| Technical Specs | pH: 3.87 Acidity: 5.2 g/L Alcohol: 14.4% 26 months in neural French oak |
| Case Production | 486 |
| Cellaring | The 2023 Alectrona can be enjoyed now and will continue to develop for another 5-7 years if stored in optimal conditions. |
