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Mosby & Contact: Alan Goldfarb 9496 Santa Rosa Rd. [email protected] Buellton, CA 93427 415.806.4243 AVA 800.706.6729

OUR STORY

Santa Barbara County. Mosby Winery & Vineyard. , right? That’s how one’s thought processes might work, but one would be incorrect to put Mosby and Pinot Noir together in the same sentence. For it is with Italian varietals that Bill Mosby has cast his lot, not with the Burgundian for which Santa Barbara County has become famous.

There are complex reasons why Bill Mosby – a complex man – concluded that Pinot Noir wouldn’t do well on his parcel, just west of Buellton, and that Italian varietals such as Cortese and Dolcetto, Sagrantino, and maybe even would thrive in De la Questa Canyon. Just listen to what Jeri Mosby, Bill’s wife of 59 years, succinctly says about her husband’s short- lived Pinot Noir quest: “He was not able to grow Pinot Noir on that ground. He wanted to do a certain thing with Pinot, and he couldn’t get there.”

Which Bill Mosby affirms: “I wanted to make Burgundian Pinot Noir. I tried for five years, using different clones, and it didn’t work.

“Pinot from Burgundy has a little barnyard character, it’s silky, soft, ethereal. It’s seductive. Mine didn’t have that. I wasn’t getting the right extraction. I gave up. It just didn’t produce here. It was the wrong grape to grow.

“Pinot Noir wouldn’t grow here. , everyone was growing it here. I got gold medals but that didn’t interest me; nor did . Then I started looking at Italian varietals.” So, he concluded, “I know I’m not in Pinot Noir country. I’m two miles from the Santa Rita Hills. So, I’ve proven that Italian varietals will grow here; I’ve been a kind of a loner anyway.”

The Mosbys, in 1959 settled in Lompoc, eventually winding up just south of Buellton, in the Santa Ynez Valley, where they bought the Rancho de la Vega property in 1976, on which they built a winery in ’78. The first commercial – under the Vega label was made from the 1978 . The name was changed to Mosby Winery & Vineyard in 1986. The first vineyard, planted in 1963 and owned by the Mosbys, is the 246 vineyard west of Buellton. The Vigna della Casa Vecchia Vineyard was planted in 1976, and the Sori 101 vineyard was planted in 2002, (40 acres total planted) under the ownership of Mosby Winery & Vineyard.

Driving past the rock-walled entrance adorned with the Mosby family crest, visitors to the winery get the sense that they are going back 100 years in time. Giant sycamore and ancient trees shade several picnic tables, and a palm tree stands across from a 25-foot tall cactus in this rustic, authentic setting. Just ahead is an old California adobe built in 1853 as a ranch house that is home to the Mosby family.

Mosby produces about 20 different predominantly from its 40-acre estate, which also includes three single-vineyard wines, and a quartet of imports from the and Marche regions of ’s north and central. In all, about 5,000 cases are produced annually.

BILL MOSBY Owner/Winemaker/Vineyard Manager

Bill Mosby began his professional life as a dentist in Fort Lewis, WA. That summer, he says “For three days the sun came out; I said to my wife Jeri, ‘Let’s get out of here.’ We moved to Pomona where I practiced for a few months.”

Then it was on to Lompoc, and eventually to Buellton. It was there – while still practicing dentistry -- that wine got into Bill Mosby’s system. “There were Portuguese and Italian construction workers (who were also full- time farmers) next door putting up a medical building. They all were making wine at home; and we made wine for years together. I knew it could be made better”

One might ask then, at this point, Why Italian varietals?

“I got to love them,” Mosby answers simply while relating a story about the first time he traveled to Italy. “Maybe it had to do with where I was, in Appiano in Trentino-Alto Adige and the young winemakers were enthused with what they were doing; and I was accepted over there. “I was looking at the Dolomites and it was like a fairy tale to me. I had an Andrea Bocelli tape on – very loud – then I tasted the wines with Luigi Togn of Gaierhof winery when I told him, ‘I’ve got to have some of these cuttings (Teroldego).’ We drank six bottles – in a bowling alley. I didn’t get those cuttings, but that Spring, here in Buellton at a farmer’s market, I ran into Jim Clendenen, who told me he had four vines in his back yard and I could have some cuttings; It was on another trip in Diano d’Alba in Piemonte when “we walked through snow, dogs were barking, lights were going on that I got some Dolcetto cuttings “No, I didn’t steal them, I was helping them prune.“

Another obvious question then should be asked: Why did Bill Mosby – perhaps audaciously -- think he could grow these disparate Italian varieties, on his property, in California? And Why did they take to your ?

“You’d have to ask the grape,” Mosby answers without the slightest bit of rancor or irony. “Dolcetto really likes it here, and with these red varieties you’ve got to have the right spot. I’m still out to lunch on the Nebbiolo (see Varietal Section below).

“But I guess it’s just dumb luck. If you try hard enough, even a blind squirrel ...“

Your luck has held, even after all these years? What is it about your terroir?

“It’s proven out. My are on alluvial plain – clay, shale with deposits of rocks, large gravel layers, layer-upon-layer upon-layer. And the climate: We don’t get the high temperatures they get in Paso or in the Mother Lode. A few days it gets into the triple digits, otherwise the mid-70s, 80s. The chilling winds come from Gaviota, 8 miles to the South and Surf Beach in Lompoc 25 miles to the West.

Why haven’t others done the same (grown Italian varieties)?

Bill Mosby says directly that the closest vineyard from his property is a mile away, and north-to- south, “there is none”.

Finally, Bill Mosby doesn’t keep meticulous cellar notes (In spite of that, thorough tech notes are included here). That’s because, as his wife Jeri Mosby amusingly states, “As a dentist he recorded everything. But as a farmer and because he’s ‘retired’, he’s very creative. He uses his creative side now, so that he doesn’t have to record everything.”

THE ITALIAN VARIETALS of MOSBY WINERY

Cortese (core TAYSEH) Bill Mosby was the first winemaker in Santa Barbara County to release Cortese, and is one of only a handful of producers in California. Cortese are made into the wine known as Gavi in the southeastern Piemonte region of northern Italy. The Cortese is grown on the estate’s 246 Vineyard, west of Buellton.

Dolcetto (dole CHET oh) The Italian word dolcetto means "little sweet one", but it is not certain that the name originally carried any reference to the grape’s sugar levels; it is possible that it derives from the name of the hills where the vine is grown. On a trip in Diano d’Alba in Piemonte when “we walked through snow, dogs were barking, lights were going on that he got some Dolcetto cuttings “No, I didn’t steal them, I borrowed them,” explains Bill Mosby. The Dolcetto is grown on the Vigna della Casa Vecchia Vineyard on Mosby’s estate.

Lagrein (La Seduzione) (lah GRAH'EEN) The grape is named after the Lagarina Valley of Trentino, although it is now primarily grown at Gries on the outskirts of Bolzano. An extremely rare grape in the United States, we know of only a handful of vineyards in California. Bill was able to procure these grapes from the French Camp Vineyard in Santa Margarita in San Luis Obispo County.

Pinot Grigio (Pee no GREE joh) Pinot Grigio originates from the Fruili-Venezia Guilia of Italy. Said to be a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape, the Pinot Grigio seems unsure whether it is a red or grape; hence, grigio, meaning gray, although the Mosby Pinot Grigio is a deep straw color. It also has body, is savory and very dry. Bill Mosby was the first winemaker in Santa Barbara County to release the varietal. The Mosby Pinot Grigio is grown on the 246 Vineyard.

Sagrantino (sah grahn TEE noh) The Mosby Sagrantino was the first domestically produced Sagrantino available for sale in California. Sagrantino grows around the hilltop town of Montefalco in Umbria. Bill imported the cuttings and tended them in his estate vineyard for four years before his first Sagrantino in 2006. The variety is grown on the Vigna della Casa Vecchia Vineyard.

Primitivo (Primativo©) Primitivo is grown in Apulia (Puglia, Italy) but originating in Croatia; and is genetically equivalent to . The grapes for the Mosby Primativo© are grown on the central coast in the French Camp vineyard, 20 miles inland from the Pacific. This location has the ideal heat factor needed to grow good Primitivo.

Sangiovese (Sahn joh VEH zeh) Though it is the grape of most of central Italy from Romagna to Lazio, Campania and Sicily in the south, outside Italy it is most famous as the only component of Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino and the main component of the blend Chianti, Carmignano, Vino Nobile di and Morellino di Scansano, although it can also be used in "Super Tuscan" wines such as Tignanello. The grapes for Mosby’s are grown on the estate’s Vigna della Casa Vecchia Vineyard. According to Bill Mosby California Sangiovese “has a bad name, got a bum rap. Not enough people know about Sangiovese.”

Teroldego (teh ROHL deh goh) The Rotaliano plain of northeastern Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige region has been growing and producing Teroldego for more than 500 years. Mosby Winery is one of the few growers and producers of Teroldego in California. The Mosby Teroldedo is grown on the sandy loam of the estate’s 246 Vineyard.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT NEBBIOLO

Its’ worth saying a few words about this Piemontese grape, especially as it pertains to Bill Mosby’s long and arduous quest to make a good wine out of one of the world’s great – but underappreciated – grape varietals.

Bill's Nebbiolo vines were planted in 2002 on Mosby’s five-acre hillside parcel in gummy clay that is similar to Barbaresco’s vineyards, and named the Sori 101 Vineyard. Mosby's first Nebbiolo wine was produced in 2010. In the 1970s, Bill got 25 cuttings from UC Davis. “Didn’t know what I was doing, and it didn’t produce.” So, he went to Italy – one of about 10 trips -- and “I found out what I was doing wrong.

“Nebbiolo is very conscious of where it’s grown and how it’s pruned. The position of the sun – southeast exposure – and the soil is crucial. Italy gets more rain; but here, the soil bakes and fissures. Once the roots get down past that zone – 12-18 inches – they can be good.“

Nonetheless, after four – the Mosby Nebbiolo still has not been released. That is, until the Nebbiolo of 2013. “Until 2013, nothing spectacular was produced, just good wine juice,” explains Bill of his pending first Nebbiolo. “Before I make a splash with this wine, it’s gotta be comparable to the Langhe (the area that produces the varietal in Italy). I’m holding off. But I think I’ll bottle the ’13). It has massive tannins. But I’m all smiles because it’s mellowing out.” Mosby is thinking about bottling it after the first of the year in 2016.

THE WINES

Mosby has approximately 20 wines in its portfolio, almost exclusively Italian varieties, almost all produced on Mosby’s estate, and including several imported from Italy. All, with the exception of some sparkling wines and spirits, are enclosed with Stelvin Lux capsules. CORTESE STELLINE DI CORTESE (Sparkling) *STELLINE DI ERBALUCE (Piemonte/Sparkling) *STELLINE DI VERNACCIA ( Marche Red Sparkling) ROSATO DI CANNONAU PINOT GRIGIO TRAMINER DOLCETTO *PASSERINA (Marche) *OSSESSIONE (Montepulciano, Marche) SANGIOVESE PRIMATIVO© (Primitivo) LA SEDUZIONE (Lagrein, French Camp Vineyard, San Luis Obispo County) SAGRANTINO TEROLDEGO ROC MICHEL (Fremir Vineyard, Monterey County/-Mourvedre) SOFIA (raspberry ) LUCCA (Sangiovese) GRAPPA (Traminer) DISTILLATO (Plum Brandy) ACQUA SLIVOVITZ *Import

THE VINEYARDS & TERROIR

Why did Italian varietals take to your terroir?

“You’d have to ask the grape,” Mosby answers without the slightest bit of rancor or irony. “Dolcetto really likes it here, and with these red varieties you’ve got to have the right spot. I’m still out to lunch on the Nebbiolo (see Varietal Section below).

“But I guess it’s just dumb luck. If you try hard enough, even a blind squirrel ... “ Your luck has held, even after all these years? What is it about your terroir? “It’s proven out. My vineyards are on alluvial plain – clay, shale with deposits of rocks, large gravel layers, layer-upon-layer upon-layer. And the climate: We don’t get the high temperatures they get in Paso or the Mother Lode. A few days it gets into the triple digits, otherwise the mid- 70s, 80s. The chilling winds come from Gaviota, 8 miles to the South and Surf Beach in Lompoc 25 miles to the West.

There are three distinct vineyards totaling about 40 acres.

Of note: Bill Mosby uses no sulfur dust because of meandering breezes, although he does spray, judiciously, wettable sulfur up to six weeks before harvest.

In addition to hand-picking, Mosby practices “green pruning” or thinning. Meaning: Weak shoots and ones without clusters are discarded. More color, tannins, and flavors then are able to emerge. At Mosby, there are no sorting tables; sorting is done up to four times during the growing season and finally while harvesting.

Vigna della Casa Vecchia Vineyard The Vigna della Casa Vecchia Vineyard is named after the 1853 adobe on the property where Bill Mosby and wife Jeri live. The vineyard, planted by Bill in 1977 and expanded in 1991, is easily seen from highway 101 just south of Buellton. The microclimate here is created by ocean breezes from Gaviota to the south and Lompoc to the west, with clay loam and shale soils supporting approximately 18 acres of Italian varietals. Sangiovese, Sagrantino, and Dolcetto comprise the bulk of the vines in this vineyard; some Syrah and are grown here too for a rosato.

246 Vineyard The 246 Vineyard was the first planted on the Mosby estate. The property was acquired in 1963, and following a flood year that washed away a large chunk of the property, Bill decided to plant vines in 1971. Located along the north banks of the , the soil is predominantly sandy loam which supports 17 acres of vines. Varietals in the 246 vineyard include Teroldego, Pinot Grigio and Cortese grapes, some of which are 43-year-old plantings. The cooler climate and southern exposure is suited for these varietals. This location is a sink for cold air and must be protected from frost in most years. Although the vineyard is west of highway 101 it sits just outside of the Santa Rita Hills appellation.

Sori 101 The Sori 101 Vineyard is located on the hills above the old adobe. This vineyard is home to five acres of Nebbiolo vines that Bill planted in 2002. Nebbiolo grapes are fussy, and demand specific conditions and care. The vines need the cooling ocean breezes of this site to thrive, as well as the protection of the vineyard team and local raptors to guard against rodent damage. The soils are comprised of the similar clay that is found in Barbaresco, Piemonte (Note: As of 2013, there have been four harvests of Nebbiolo, but Mosby Winery & Vineyards is yet to release the wine commercially.)

Where Mosby Wines Can Be Found

California Oregon Massachusetts Pennsylvania

FUN & INTERESTING MISCELLANY

The Tasting Room & Adobe The Mosby tasting room is in the historic carriage house, built in the 1880s, that now functions also as the winery. Fully restored in 1978, the space is still permeated by the rustic atmosphere of old California. The red barn is a well- known landmark for locals and visitors. It is a replica of a turn-of- the-century carriage house that existed up to 1977 when 100 mph winds blew it down. Mosby rebuilt the barn, once used by travelers in horse-drawn carriages,

The handsome, thick-walled adobe was built in 1853 by Dr. Roman de la Cuesta, the first doctor in the Santa Ynez Valley, for his wife Micaela. Bill Mosby, his wife Jeri, and their son Ric live in the adobe.

The Mosby Olive Orchard Bill Mosby planted approximately 1 1/2 acres of olive trees on the Mosby estate in 2003. Located in de la Cuesta Canyon, this hillside orchard is home to four different types of olives: frantoio, leccino, pendolino and arbequina. The trees are tended and their olives are picked young, resulting in a bright-green oil with vibrant herbal flavors. In 2015, Mosby added 28 young trees of the leccino variety. The high-quality Santa Barbara County olive oil will be available in the tasting room at the beginning of 2016.

The Tiny Chapel on the Hill Completed in the Fall of 2014, the 216 square-foot Mosby chapel on the estate Sori 101 Vineyard and above the Vigna della Casa Vecchia Vineyard -- has wooden pews salvaged from a church in Ohio, stained glass windows and gorgeous views of the vineyards and surrounding Santa Ynez Valley. Quiet and serene, the private chapel provides a peaceful place for reflection. Bill Mosby often comes here, takes a seat, opens the front door, and gazes out – contemplatively – at the view that stretches all the way to the San Rafael mountain range.

The Psychedelic Water Closet The Mosby Winery restroom, crafted by Bill Mosby himself, is a must-see. The building is situated next to the tasting room and features round windows with acrylic panes in primary colors, mozaic floors, and brilliant colored laser lights. It is a quirky, fun sight to experience for anyone visiting the winery.