{"id":7188,"date":"2015-08-14T18:33:56","date_gmt":"2015-08-15T01:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7188"},"modified":"2015-08-14T11:37:26","modified_gmt":"2015-08-14T18:37:26","slug":"cocktail-corner-potek-winery-launches-in-the-mill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7188","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Potek Winery Launches in The Mill"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Potek

Potek Winery opens Aug. 20 at The Mill (Haley and Laguna Streets). Photo by Cara Robbins.<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

It seems rather fitting that Dave Potter<\/a>‘s new wine venture, Potek Winery<\/a>, is the first of several farm-to-table ventures launching in The Mill<\/a>. If you haven’t heard about Darrell and Kirsten Becker<\/a>‘s cool new project, trust me, you will! Located at the corner of Laguna and Haley streets, The Mill is a stunning modern spin on The Feed Mill originally constructed in 1904 by the Boykin family and now converted into a very unique artisan marketplace with onsite manufacturing.<\/p>\n

I predict both locals and visitors will flock to this cool, new mixed-use venue, which will eventually feature a production winery and tasting bar (that’s Potek), a craft brewery and tap room (Third Window Brewery<\/a>), specialty restaurant (from Justin and Emma West of Julienne<\/a>) and event center\u2014all connected by a beautiful and practical shared-space, tree-shaded courtyard. The Mill is also home to creative businesses Becker Studios Design\/Construction<\/a>, Pelago<\/a>\u00a0and AB Design Studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Potter\u2014who is best known as the affable winemaker and proprietor of Municipal Winemakers<\/a> in the Funk Zone\u2014began handcrafting wines for the Potek label in 2012. “The whole principal behind Muni Wine was to be as approachable as possible, accessible to anyone,” Potter told me when we chatted at Potek last month.<\/p>\n

Potek is more serious, upscale venture, “focused on tiny bottlings from individual ranches.” The new winery is founded on a commitment to produce the best possible wines from Santa Barbara\u2019s world-class vineyards, rooted in traditional techniques with a reverence for site.<\/p>\n

\"Potek

Potek Winery, photo by Christian Thomas Hynes<\/p><\/div>\n

The first five releases include:<\/p>\n

2013 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir, $60<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Making wine from Sanford\u00a0&\u00a0Benedict is a privilege,” says Potter.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“The fruit for this wine is from the original 1971 own-rooted plantings\u2014the genesis of Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir.\u00a0This vineyard has been tended from the\u00a0start\u00a0with\u00a0love and care, resulting in vines\u00a0that\u00a0produce wines of amazing complexity\u00a0and\u00a0striking purity.”<\/p>\n

2013 Rancho La Vina Pinot Noir, $50<\/strong><\/p>\n

Potter says, “2013 Pinot Noir Rancho La Vina is laced with spice, dark plum and menthol, all of which blossoms in the glass effortlessly. Savory and floral notes are just beginning to develop in what looks to be a hugely promising Pinot to drink over the next several years.”<\/p>\n

2012 Tierra Alta Syrah, $45<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Iron, smoke, tobacco, black olives, cedar and black cherries meld together in the 2012 Syrah Tierra Alta,” says Potter. ” It\u2019s rich and explosive through to the finish. The 2012 boasts terrific depth and density in a\u00a0meaty, full- bodied style.\u00a0\u00a0 This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered in April of 2014.”<\/p>\n

2012 Tierra Alta Grenache, $40<\/strong><\/p>\n

Potter says this wine, “boasts notable depth, but the inclusion of the whole clusters adds an attractive element of lift to balance the richness and fruit. 2012 is hugely varietal, but the flavors and textures are all amped up\u2014kirsch, spice-box, cured meats and dried licorice-like qualities.”<\/p>\n

2013 Kick on Ranch Riesling, $30<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Kick\u00a0On Ranch is,\u00a0in my opinion,\u00a0the top\u00a0Riesling site in Santa Barbara County,” says Potter.\u00a0 “We bottled 94 cases and are releasing the wine after a year of bottle aging.\u00a0Riesling\u00a0wines from this ranch tend to stay really primary until about one year of bottle age.\u00a0At this point, they begin to\u00a0develop those curiously tasty,\u00a0mineral and\u00a0kerosene characters unique to the varietal.\u00a0Green apples, sage and a hint of spice\u00a0are all present and nicely compliment\u00a0that fascinating mineral character\u00a0specific to Riesling. Above all else, this is a wine that speaks of texture; it is crisp, fresh and steely, while\u00a0simultaneously creamy, supple and generous.”<\/p>\n

\"Potek

Potek Winery, photo by Christian Thomas Hynes<\/p><\/div>\n

Potter explains that the origin of the name Potek is from his great grandfather, who immigrated from Romania to the United States with the name Berl Potek, which was changed to Benjamin Potter, as he passed through Ellis Island in 1917. Potek’s bravery to search for a better life, and the immigrants\u2019 experience of adaptation in a new environment inspires his great grandson\u2019s approach to winemaking with traditional French techniques and grapes, grown in California.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could not be more excited about my first release of Potek wines. The bottlings are from vineyard sites that I have been working with for years, and represent what I feel to be some of the strongest expressions of these special places in Santa Barbara County,\u201d says Potter.<\/p>\n

The wines are available for sale online now, and the winery, at 406 E. Haley St., will be open to the general public starting Aug. 20. For more information, visit Potek.com<\/a> or call 805\/598 1896.Cheers! Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more cocktail corner columns.<\/p>\n

\"Potek

Potek Winery, photo by Christian Thomas Hynes<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Leslie<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of\u00a0Santa Barbara SEASONS<\/a>, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i>
\nOriginally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/em><\/a> on August 14, 2015.<\/p>\n

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