About Us
Slouch Hat Wines was created to bottle the feeling of relaxation that only a picturesque vineyard can provide after a long day of work. Since we can’t all end the day overlooking the vineyard, we work to bring it to you. Therefore, we allow our grapes to grow in the vineyard to be true expressions of the Santa Ynez Valley. In the winery we take a light-handed approach to craft wines with soul, dynamic aromatics, depth of fruit, and structure that stays true to the terroir’s influence. Wherever you open a bottle and pour a glass remember you’ve earned your slouch and enjoy as the gentle hills of the Santa Ynez Valley unfold around you.
Click the link to read the story behind the name!
Matt Fowler grew up in a dry county in Northeast Arkansas, far removed from any culinary or wine sophistication. After moving to Virginia with the Marine Corps, he and his dad were on a road trip that took them through Virginia’s wine country. Curiosity piqued, they stopped at one vineyard. Then two. Then many. From that moment on, Matt was in love. He took every opportunity to escape from the discipline and structure of the Marine Corps into the hedonism and serenity of the wineries. He dove headfirst into learning everything he could about the art and science of producing the perfect bottle of wine. He stepped off the path leading him to law school to work at a winery, promising himself that he would find a way to have his own vineyard and winery one day. Several years later and a couple of twist and turns, Slouch Hat Wines was born.
Click the link to read the full story directly from Matt!
Rhone varietals and Sauvignon Blanc have staked their claim in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. First established in the early eighties when the Central Coast was still in its viticultural infancy, the unique transverse Santa Ynez Valley AVA covers a large climatological range of Santa Barbara County. The cool coastal temperatures heat up as you travel inland towards Happy Canyon, taking you to the more recently established Ballard Canyon AVA, which harbors thriving Rhone varietals. Grapes like Syrah, Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc benefit from the mixed, middle valley climate and maritime winds blowing in from the Santa Rita Hills. The warm, long days alleviated by the cool ocean breezes give the grapes an extended growing season. The varied geography lends itself to smaller vineyard sites and allows many of the Ballard Canyon AVA vineyards to use sustainable practices that require traditional hands-on farming practices. Wine growers here have great attention to detail during the growing and harvesting process, which ensures higher-quality fruit. These factors blend to provide some of the most dynamic Rhone and Sauvignon Blanc wines that California has to offer.
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Tierra Alta is one of the steepest vineyards in the Ballard Canyon AVA, sitting on an eastern edge with a southeast to southwest orientation. It is a great location for Rhone Varietals, as the slope gives the land drainage that balances the vines water uptake, providing smaller and more intensely flavored grapes.
The Sauvignon Blanc section is located near the top of the vineyard at 1300 feet above sea level and planted in shallow, calcareous soils. The Syrah, first planted in 2000, is planted in clay soil with high concentrations of limestone. This gives the fruit a distinct minerality. The cool Pacific Ocean influence allows for a long growing season and ripe fruit complexities.
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This 20-acre site sits on the hilly and rocky southeast-facing slopes of the Los Olivos District AVA. Originally planted about twenty years ago, the vines are planted at 1000 vines per acre and are all hand-harvested.
The vineyards are set along a series of mesas composed of sandy loam with rocky sub-soils. The rocky soil and orientation result in complex, intensely flavored fruit. Gentle exposure to the elements ensures a long, steady growing season, and the well-draining, low-nutrient soils minimize vine vigor, which leads to more concentrated and balanced varietal flavors.
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The nights are cool, and the days are sun-drenched with a touch of wind and fog on this 40-acre vineyard. The eastern vines face the wind that funnels through the Santa Ynez Valley. Its south-facing hills, which sit on the eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, are formed from limestone pebbles. The easily drained limestone soil and cool, channeled breezes coming in from the sea are ideal for growing Syrah. Bridlewood also produces several other varietals, including Grenache and Viognier.
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First planted in 1999, Camp Four vineyard sits on the easternmost edge of Santa Ynez Valley in the Los Olivos AVA, serving as the gateway to Happy Canyon AVA. It experiences the right balance of warm sunshine tempered by cool afternoon breezes blowing east from the Pacific through the Santa Rita Hills. This provides an ideal microclimate for the long-ripening Mourvèdre grapes.
The name “Camp Four” refers to the land being the fourth stagecoach stop on a passage from San Francisco to Yuma, Arizona. Since then, it has become one of the top sources of Rhone grapes while also growing eighteen other varietals, including Bordeaux varietals. Planted on sandy loam soils, ideal for restraining naturally vigorous varietals, the drainage allows the vine to produce wines with concentrated flavors.
Farmed by the Chumash Indian tribe, the vineyard prioritizes sustainability in its farming practices. Indigenous winemaker Tara Gomez reminds us, “Growing wine grapes is truly a partnership with Mother Earth. It is about finding that connection to the land, soil, and climate. It’s not only about taking what we need, but also giving back in sustainable ways so that we can preserve the land for the longevity of our future generations.”
Parade Rest: Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre (GSM)
Vineyards: Tierra Alta (Syrah), Santa Ynez Ranch (Syrah), Rock Hollow (Grenache), Camp 4 (Mourvèdre)
Tasting Notes: Grenache provides generous wild red berry aromas that blend with the blue fruits and spice of Syrah and the tannins of Mourvèdre for a rambunctious yet contained experience.
As You Were: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyards: Tierra Alta
Tasting Notes: Fresh citrus and green fruit aromas invite a taste, and the taste rewards with light grass, citrus, and melon wrapped in a silky texture.
Contact Us
Email
cellar@slouchhatwines.com
Phone
(805) 354-5377