Lumen
By David Keck
Santa Barbara County has been a hotspot for cool-climate winemaking since the movie Sideways really put it on the map, but winemaking in Santa Barbara goes back to the 18th century with missionaries bringing the grape vine from Mexico. Prohibition destroyed much of what developed in the county through the 19th century with the first estate winery, Firestone, coming online in 1975.
It was at Firestone that Lane Tanner first cut her teeth, working as the oenologist for her first vintage in 1981 (recommended for the job by the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff!). Now the winemaker for Lumen, we are super excited to introduce her wines to the state! The first female winemaker working for an independent winery in Santa Barbara, Lane was also the first winemaker to dedicate an entire winery to Pinot Noir production. She is also known for picking for lower alcohol, working with low levels of sulfur, and producing old-school California wines, spending time at Zaca Mesa, Hitching Post, and under her own label from 1989-2009.
Lane is joined by Will Henry who comes to Lumen Winery from a diverse history in the wine business, starting at the iconic Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Australia, then working for his family’s distribution company (the Henry Wine Group), and is also a restaurateur, owning Pico Restaurant with his wife, Kali. Will is also a photographer, journalist, and founder of the Save the Waves Coalition—joining Lane, they make a pretty formidable team behind Lumen wines.
Lumen wines are grown in all certified sustainable and biodynamic vineyards, is a member of 1% for the Planet, and generally stands for everything that we think is right and good in the wine world. Oh, and the wines are friggin’ delicious.
We’ve got a few offerings right now and more to come:
Lumen Santa Maria Valley Pinot Gris 2019
Aged in neutral oak and all coming from the Sierra Madre vineyard in one of the best plots for Pinot, this is ripe, rich, but not overpowering—well balanced and interesting Pinot Gris in an Alsatian style without the residual sugar!
Lumen Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2019
Also from the Sierra Madre vineyard from clones 15 and 76 (if you want to get dorky about it)! 18% new oak, all French, 100% malo, great acidity and 12.5% alcohol. So delicious, refreshing without sacrificing its richness and character.
Lumen Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2016
Such an amazing wine and fun to find it with a couple years in the bottle. Given 94 points and Editor’s Choice form Wine Enthusiast, this wine will drink for the next ten years. From the Sierra Madre, Presqu’ile, and Garey vineyards. 5% new oak, all French and Hungarian, unfined, and 13.2% ABV.
Lumen Santa Barbara Grenache Blanc 2016
Grenache Blanc is seeing a bit of a resurgence and this one is a good example of WHY. 6 months in Hungarian Oak, all from the Camp 4 vineyard, this is white wine built for food, with acidity, richness, and lots of texture. Only a couple hundred cases produced, sadly, but we’ve got some!