Byron Vineyard & Winery

Owner(s)	Jackson Family Wines
Web site	www.byronwines.com

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The first commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County was established by Uriel Nielson in 1964. Ken Brown (Byron Kent Brown) later founded his Byron Winery on the site of the original Nielsen Vineyard and released the first Byron Pinot Noir from purchased grapes in 1984. Brown acquired the 118-acre Nielsen Vineyard in 1989. In 1990, Robert Mondavi Winery bought Byron. A few years later, Ken Brown left to pursue his own label and Ken Volk purchased the Byron Winery and renamed it Kenneth Volk Vineyards. Subsequently Byron passed through the hands of Constellation Brands, Legacy Estates Group and finally Jackson Family Wines who currently own the winery.

The winemaker since 2003 is Jonathan Nagy, a University California Davis graduate. He works with all of the commonly used Dijon clones plus Pommard, Wadenswil and Swan selection from multiple vineyard sources including Nielson Vineyard, Sierra Madre Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Julia's Vineyard. There are both Santa Maria Valley appellation Pinot Noirs and vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs (Sierra Madre Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Julia's Vineyard, Nelson Vineyard, and Monument Vineyard).

The tasting room is located in Los Olivos at The Bench: An Artisan Estate Winery Collection, 2367 Alamo Pintado Avenue.

Articles About Byron Vineyard & Winery

California Recession-Busting Pinots (7.6 11/17/2008)
On the Pinot Trail: WOPN 2010 (8.13 4/8/2010)

Reviewed Wines

2007 Byron Nielson Vineyard Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.6% alc.. The Nielson Vineyard was planted in 1964 by Uriel Nielson, the first commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County. The site is windy, arid and cold leading to low vigor vine growth. Clones 113, 114, 115, 667, 777, 2A and Pommard. · Darkly colored. Intensely fruity nose featuring dark berries with a hint of oak toast, oak spice and sandalwood. Impressive explosion of fruit on the nose. Over time in the glass, aromas of underbrush and brininess that is common in the Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir fruit emerges. Plenty of pleasing red and black fruits on the palate with a sidecar of earth, tea and spice. A Caliesque-styled wine that provides plenty of pleasure at a decent price. Perfect with a grilled steak. Very good. Reviewed April 8, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., $19. Estate produced and bottled. · Well-oaked cherry fruit with herbal overtones carrying through in the flavors. Noticeably toasty. Clean and precise with soft tannins. Matches up nicely with grilled lamb. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »