Astonishingly fresh with intense yet delicate notes of melon, honey and well-spiced ripe grapefruit. Enormous concentration, plush flavors of ripe apricot and pear, perfectly balanced by acidity and a long finish.
Winery: Tudor Wines
Owners: Dan and Christian Tudor
Founded: 2000
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Every year our grandfather Tudor used to make wine for his friends and family. It’s a tradition. The Tudor family has been growing grapes and lavender – and making wine on the Island of Hvar in Croatia – for over 2,000 years. The Tudors began growing grapes in California early in the 1900’s and continue to operate one of the largest table grape vineyards in the country.
In an increasingly mechanized world, there are still a few handcrafted products that stand out. Fine wine is one of them. At Tudor Wines, we select fruit from family-owned vineyards and transform it into wine using traditional techniques. These include small fermentations mixed by hand and aging in French barrels. The resulting wine has a purity of expression that cannot be duplicated on a larger scale.
On the island of Hvar in Croatia, the Tudor family has grown grapes and lavender for hundreds of years in a small village called Velo Grablje. The island of Hvar is the longest Adriatic island. It has plenty of lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards. Hvar is, no doubt, an exceptional island, both in summer and winter. Due to its mild winter climate and rich subtropical vegetation, it has also been called the Croatian Madeira. An average of 2724 hours of sunshine per year makes Hvar one of the sunniest places in Croatia.
This tradition of growing grapes continued when Christians’ grandfathers moved to California and planted table grape vineyards in the 1920’s. These are Dan Tudor and Sons and Vincent B. Zaninovich farms located in Delano, California. Christian worked at Dan Tudor and Sons during the summer picking seasons throughout high school and college 1988-1998.
Dan Tudor first made wine in 1982 while working for cousin Louie Lucas, the founding and managing partner of Tepuesquet Vineyards in the Santa Maria valley. There were 1700 acres of high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, and Riesling to choose from. The 1982 and 1983 wines along with a 1983 sparkling wine all won 1st and 2nd place awards in the Santa Barbara County Fair and later at the Santa Cruz County Fair amateur wine competitions. Dan, inspired and encouraged, began his lifelong goal to start a winery and make world-class wine.
In 1997, Dan began his quest and discovered Monterey County’s potential as top-flight winegrowing region. Its vast microclimates and terroir allow for over 40 different grape varieties but it was Pinot Noir that Dan pursued. Dan’s first cousin Christian Tudor, committed to preserving the family tradition, teamed up with Dan to start Tudor Wines and create handcrafted wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Nacina Santa Lucia Highlands Off Dry Riesling by Dan Tudor
4 bottles for $59.99 $15/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Hello, first time rat here. I see that the last time this wine was offered in late June 2018 none of the rats reported, and I am not about to let that happen again.
Before I begin, let me first talk about my typical preferences in wine. My all-time favorite wines tend to be reds on the dry side with big, bold flavor and contain Cabernet Sauvignon either exclusively or at least heavily present such as in many Meritage blends. I also tend to be partial to some of the bolder Pinot Noirs. While I can drink white wine, I usually don’t appreciate it as much as others seem to. The notable exception to this is sweet whites, such as some icewines or rieslings/piesporters.
When I opened the package and saw the wine, my first reaction was disappointment, as even though it is a riesling it is listed as “Off-Dry.” I took it home and put it in the fridge. For a red I would have put it in my basement, which is closer to cellar temperature, but here I wanted to try to bring out the sweetness.
To pair with it I have goat cheese and a turkey sub sandwich.
After the wine had a suitable amount of time to cool down I brought it out, opened the ROPP cap, and poured a sampling into my trusty Casemates glass and swirled it around. It has a nice delicate straw color, and has enough viscosity to leave a smooth coating on the glass, but does not seem to have any notable legs.
Sniffing it, I was immediately reminded of fresh crisp apples and noticed a distinct smell of white grape juice. Not exactly the most original description, but that really is what it reminds me of. For a brief moment I thought I could smell oak, but deeper sniffs did not bring that feeling back.
I gave it a moment to air out and took a sip. Do you remember the first time you tried Mead, expecting that sweet honey taste, only to be disappointed by the reality? I can’t help but think this wine is what Mead SHOULD have been. It’s sweet, it’s syrupy, and it has honeyed complexity beyond what I typically find in Rieslings. Not at all like what I was expecting with ‘Semi-Dry’ on the label. Sure, this isn’t a full on dessert wine, but to my palate it seems pretty far removed from anything I would refer to as ‘Dry.’
Now to pair it with the food. For the goat cheese, the wine has enough punch in its flavor to balance the goat cheese surprisingly well. I had not been expecting this pairing to work as well as it did. It doesn’t affect my taste perceptions of the goat cheese at all, and the goat cheese makes the wine taste smoother and more pear-like.
Moving on to the turkey sub, again this seems like a good match. The oil in the sub clashes slightly but the turkey, cheese, and bread compliment the wine. I find myself compelled to alternate sipping and eating, as the two really do work well and refresh my palate between each bite or sip so the next alternation tastes fresh again. Definitely a recommended pairing.
I left some out in the glass to warm up closer to room temperature, and tried again. This wine is definitely better cold. The flavor near room temperature is almost too concentrated, and tastes almost entirely like drinking room temperature white grape juice with some harsh elements added in. I did not enjoy it much at all, and will be sticking to drinking this one while it’s nice and cold.
I’m saving about half the bottle, and will try more tomorrow after it has had more time to oxidize and open up. I’m not expecting much change; this wine seemed ready to go right on the initial pour.
I think this wine is near its peak right now, and I don’t think it would be a good idea to cellar this for more than a few years or the drinking window may be missed. It’s a perfect summer sipper, and one I would be happy to share with my friends. At this price, this is a must buy for me; I’m in for a case.
@nklb I tried the wine again after about 36 hours in the fridge. As expected, it is very similar to before. A little of the sweetness was toned down, but it still seemed fairly sweet to my palate. The other flavors were not quite as nuanced as on the first day, but it was still very enjoyable and has a pleasantly long finish.
My girlfriend got to try a couple glasses as well this time, and she agreed it was a good wine.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2015 Nacina Santa Lucia Highlands Off-Dry Riesling - $50 = 27.76%
Hi Casemates, Dan Tudor here. thanks for checking in. I just opened a bottle of our 2013 Nacina Off Dry Riesling and it’s still tasting amazing with tons of fruit. This 2015 is going to continue to develop in the bottle and now at 4 yrs it’s drinking incredibly well.
Hi Dan! What are the brix, RS, pH, TA, etc measurements? The one rat reporting in so far makes it sound like this is closer to a spätlese in style but when described as “off-dry” I’d think it closer to a kabinett style, and on the drier end of that.
@klezman This was last year’s offering of this same wine:
In the comment thread, the vintner stated the following:
Note, with the pH and TA the wine still falls into the Off Dry category. Most important it is off dry on the palate. This is my go to wine for warm summer days and pairing with most any dish.
Alcohol % 11.54
pH 2.87
TA 0.88
Residual Sugar 2.26
FWIW I was wine tasting in Paso Robles or somewhere around there and ended up at a Nacina tasting room last summer. I bought two bottles of the 2014 vintage of this wine. From what I recall it was as others said a great summer drinker. Crisp and refreshing and quite tasty.
Tasting Notes
Astonishingly fresh with intense yet delicate notes of melon, honey and well-spiced ripe grapefruit. Enormous concentration, plush flavors of ripe apricot and pear, perfectly balanced by acidity and a long finish.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$376.72/case at Tudor Wines (for 2014 vintage, including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: Tudor Wines
Owners: Dan and Christian Tudor
Founded: 2000
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Every year our grandfather Tudor used to make wine for his friends and family. It’s a tradition. The Tudor family has been growing grapes and lavender – and making wine on the Island of Hvar in Croatia – for over 2,000 years. The Tudors began growing grapes in California early in the 1900’s and continue to operate one of the largest table grape vineyards in the country.
In an increasingly mechanized world, there are still a few handcrafted products that stand out. Fine wine is one of them. At Tudor Wines, we select fruit from family-owned vineyards and transform it into wine using traditional techniques. These include small fermentations mixed by hand and aging in French barrels. The resulting wine has a purity of expression that cannot be duplicated on a larger scale.
On the island of Hvar in Croatia, the Tudor family has grown grapes and lavender for hundreds of years in a small village called Velo Grablje. The island of Hvar is the longest Adriatic island. It has plenty of lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards. Hvar is, no doubt, an exceptional island, both in summer and winter. Due to its mild winter climate and rich subtropical vegetation, it has also been called the Croatian Madeira. An average of 2724 hours of sunshine per year makes Hvar one of the sunniest places in Croatia.
This tradition of growing grapes continued when Christians’ grandfathers moved to California and planted table grape vineyards in the 1920’s. These are Dan Tudor and Sons and Vincent B. Zaninovich farms located in Delano, California. Christian worked at Dan Tudor and Sons during the summer picking seasons throughout high school and college 1988-1998.
Dan Tudor first made wine in 1982 while working for cousin Louie Lucas, the founding and managing partner of Tepuesquet Vineyards in the Santa Maria valley. There were 1700 acres of high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, and Riesling to choose from. The 1982 and 1983 wines along with a 1983 sparkling wine all won 1st and 2nd place awards in the Santa Barbara County Fair and later at the Santa Cruz County Fair amateur wine competitions. Dan, inspired and encouraged, began his lifelong goal to start a winery and make world-class wine.
In 1997, Dan began his quest and discovered Monterey County’s potential as top-flight winegrowing region. Its vast microclimates and terroir allow for over 40 different grape varieties but it was Pinot Noir that Dan pursued. Dan’s first cousin Christian Tudor, committed to preserving the family tradition, teamed up with Dan to start Tudor Wines and create handcrafted wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Friday, August 2nd - Tuesday, August 6th
Nacina Santa Lucia Highlands Off Dry Riesling by Dan Tudor
4 bottles for $59.99 $15/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2015 Nacina Riesling
Didn’t Dan also do the Radog Riesling, or something like that?
Those were some rockin’ deals back in the day.
Good to see this long-lost reappear.
Hello, first time rat here. I see that the last time this wine was offered in late June 2018 none of the rats reported, and I am not about to let that happen again.
Before I begin, let me first talk about my typical preferences in wine. My all-time favorite wines tend to be reds on the dry side with big, bold flavor and contain Cabernet Sauvignon either exclusively or at least heavily present such as in many Meritage blends. I also tend to be partial to some of the bolder Pinot Noirs. While I can drink white wine, I usually don’t appreciate it as much as others seem to. The notable exception to this is sweet whites, such as some icewines or rieslings/piesporters.
When I opened the package and saw the wine, my first reaction was disappointment, as even though it is a riesling it is listed as “Off-Dry.” I took it home and put it in the fridge. For a red I would have put it in my basement, which is closer to cellar temperature, but here I wanted to try to bring out the sweetness.
To pair with it I have goat cheese and a turkey sub sandwich.
After the wine had a suitable amount of time to cool down I brought it out, opened the ROPP cap, and poured a sampling into my trusty Casemates glass and swirled it around. It has a nice delicate straw color, and has enough viscosity to leave a smooth coating on the glass, but does not seem to have any notable legs.
Sniffing it, I was immediately reminded of fresh crisp apples and noticed a distinct smell of white grape juice. Not exactly the most original description, but that really is what it reminds me of. For a brief moment I thought I could smell oak, but deeper sniffs did not bring that feeling back.
I gave it a moment to air out and took a sip. Do you remember the first time you tried Mead, expecting that sweet honey taste, only to be disappointed by the reality? I can’t help but think this wine is what Mead SHOULD have been. It’s sweet, it’s syrupy, and it has honeyed complexity beyond what I typically find in Rieslings. Not at all like what I was expecting with ‘Semi-Dry’ on the label. Sure, this isn’t a full on dessert wine, but to my palate it seems pretty far removed from anything I would refer to as ‘Dry.’
Now to pair it with the food. For the goat cheese, the wine has enough punch in its flavor to balance the goat cheese surprisingly well. I had not been expecting this pairing to work as well as it did. It doesn’t affect my taste perceptions of the goat cheese at all, and the goat cheese makes the wine taste smoother and more pear-like.
Moving on to the turkey sub, again this seems like a good match. The oil in the sub clashes slightly but the turkey, cheese, and bread compliment the wine. I find myself compelled to alternate sipping and eating, as the two really do work well and refresh my palate between each bite or sip so the next alternation tastes fresh again. Definitely a recommended pairing.
I left some out in the glass to warm up closer to room temperature, and tried again. This wine is definitely better cold. The flavor near room temperature is almost too concentrated, and tastes almost entirely like drinking room temperature white grape juice with some harsh elements added in. I did not enjoy it much at all, and will be sticking to drinking this one while it’s nice and cold.
I’m saving about half the bottle, and will try more tomorrow after it has had more time to oxidize and open up. I’m not expecting much change; this wine seemed ready to go right on the initial pour.
I think this wine is near its peak right now, and I don’t think it would be a good idea to cellar this for more than a few years or the drinking window may be missed. It’s a perfect summer sipper, and one I would be happy to share with my friends. At this price, this is a must buy for me; I’m in for a case.
@nklb I tried the wine again after about 36 hours in the fridge. As expected, it is very similar to before. A little of the sweetness was toned down, but it still seemed fairly sweet to my palate. The other flavors were not quite as nuanced as on the first day, but it was still very enjoyable and has a pleasantly long finish.
My girlfriend got to try a couple glasses as well this time, and she agreed it was a good wine.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2015 Nacina Santa Lucia Highlands Off-Dry Riesling - $50 = 27.76%
Hi Casemates, Dan Tudor here. thanks for checking in. I just opened a bottle of our 2013 Nacina Off Dry Riesling and it’s still tasting amazing with tons of fruit. This 2015 is going to continue to develop in the bottle and now at 4 yrs it’s drinking incredibly well.
Hi Dan! What are the brix, RS, pH, TA, etc measurements? The one rat reporting in so far makes it sound like this is closer to a spätlese in style but when described as “off-dry” I’d think it closer to a kabinett style, and on the drier end of that.
@klezman This was last year’s offering of this same wine:
In the comment thread, the vintner stated the following:
Note, with the pH and TA the wine still falls into the Off Dry category. Most important it is off dry on the palate. This is my go to wine for warm summer days and pairing with most any dish.
Alcohol % 11.54
pH 2.87
TA 0.88
Residual Sugar 2.26
FWIW I was wine tasting in Paso Robles or somewhere around there and ended up at a Nacina tasting room last summer. I bought two bottles of the 2014 vintage of this wine. From what I recall it was as others said a great summer drinker. Crisp and refreshing and quite tasty.
Did I see this was done in 375ml cans too? Would love to see them here.