Program Overview
- Demonstrating a commitment to local vineyards, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Region is introducing a new wine program: “A Collaboration.”
- The program is designed to celebrate the true partnerships between Whole Foods Market and Santa Barbara County wineries by highlighting the tremendous variety, quality, and commitment found just up the coast in Santa Barbara.
Whole Foods Market Leads the Southern California Local Wine Movement
- “A Collaboration” wines reflect the Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Region’s deep commitment to supporting local producers.
- While food enthusiasts have long emphasized locally farmed food, few have poured local wines that match their cuisine. As a pioneer in the local food movement, Whole Foods Market is bringing the same commitment and passion to Santa Barbara wineries with a truly unique and intimate partnership.
- Local winemakers, Margerum, Hitching Post, Cimarone, Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vineyards, worked closely with Whole Foods Market Team Members to develop a line of wines that elegantly capture southern California living through wine. As Whole Foods Market Team Members had an integral roll in creating the wines, they serve as a bridge that shares the wines and stories of the vineyards with customers.
- To tell the story behind the wineries and share with customers what makes these vintners and their wines so special, Whole Foods Market uses materials such as detailed American Viticulture Area maps and winemaker profiles throughout its stores.
- By highlighting the stories behind these special wines, Whole Foods Market offers customers a personal connection to the local growers and their wines.
- This program helps ensure long term growth and success for the winemakers, their local communities (i.e. job creation), and establishes Whole Foods Market as a leader in Southern California’s budding local wine movement.
Why Santa Barbara?
- While many think of Sonoma or Napa as the heart of California wine country, the “A Collaboration” wine program highlights the local gem found in the precious wine country in our very own backyard – Santa Barbara
- The unique climate, geography and soil of Santa Barbara County have lead to many small, yet fruitful family run vineyards with winemakers that produce wines which reflect the Santa Barbara County and rival those from Southern California.
- The goal of the “A Collaboration” wine program is to highlight the innovative Santa Barbra wine community and to bring the taste of Santa Barbara to Whole Foods Market shoppers—without the need to drive hundreds of miles to do so.
- The wines in the “A Collaboration” line are high-end wines from well regarded winemakers who have been making some of the best wines to come from California for decades. Through “A Collaboration,” Whole Foods Market is now able to introduce wine connoisseurs to Santa Barbara wines at a great price.
- Indeed, Whole Foods Market wine connoisseurs can enjoy these wines at their next picnic or dinner party and be transported to the breathtaking vistas, rich valleys, ancient wild flowers and magnificent vineyards that create the Santa Barbara valley.
Wine List
The project features six exclusive blends that reflect the Santa Barbara land and the wine makers approach to growing and blending. This selection will highlight the tremendous variety, quality, and commitment found just up the coast in Santa Barbara:
- Hitching Post, Central Coast Red Wine: Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley of Hitching Post Winery created a 22 barrel selection that includes a blend of 73% Valdiguie and 27% Syrah. The selection was handcrafted for Whole Foods Market to feature the bold aromas of flowers, red fruits, dark berries, spice and a touch of bacon. (Regularly $14.99, available for a special introductory price of $12.99)
- Hitching Post, Central Coast Rose Wine: Perfect for a warm, sunny, California afternoon, the 60% Valdiguie and 40% Pinot Noir handcrafted blend is a versatile dry rose that pairs well with a variety of foods. (Regularly $14.99, available for a special introductory price of $12.99)
- Margerum Wine Company, M5 Red Blend: Owner and winemaker, Doug Margerum, crafts world-class wine, stressing individuality with connotations of nature. The first wine in the series is a five-grape, six-vineyard, 18-barrel selection blended from six Santa Barbara County vineyards and displays aromas of blackberry and blueberry backed by hints of violets, anise and leather. (Regularly $24.99, available for a special introductory price of $19.99)
- Margerum Wine Company, M3 White Blend: A carefully crafted blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Riesling and 25% Old Vine Chenin Blanc is lively, bright, refreshing, clean and complex. Capturing the essence of spring in a bottle, the wine is perfect for outdoor dining and picnics. (Regularly $14.99, available for a special introductory price of $12.99)
- Clendenen Family Vineyards, Red Blend With peak harvest season prolonged until fall, this wine benefits from a gradual ripening that allows the acidity to become softer and the flavor development to heighten; all made possible by the special relationship between the climate, site and grapes. (Regularly $14.99, available for a special introductory price of $12.99)
- Au Bon Climat, Pinot Blanc: While the Santa Maria Valley is noted for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, the most distinctive grape in the valley is the Pinot Blanc—a more concentrated, rich and elegant varietal. (Regularly $14.99, available for a special introductory price of $12.99)
- Cimarone Wines, Sangiovese Blend: Grown on the steep hillside of the magnificent Cimarone Wines estate, the Sangiovese has been a standout throughout Cimarone Wines’ rich history. This proprietary blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Syrah Noir, Petit Verdot and Mablec is a wine that truly drinks well now but will reach its peak with bottle ages (Regularly $16.99, available for a special introductory price of $14.99)
- Cimarone Wines, Syrah Blend: Happy Canyon is one of the warmer Santa Barbara County wine regions for Syrah, producing wines that are rich and supple with long flavors. The dense, lean flavors of the other varietals, including Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, perfectly complement the Syrah to make an unparalleled wine that showcases the future of the Cimarone brand. (Regularly $16.99, available for a special introductory price of $14.99)
