04 Jun Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Alma Rosa 2021 Caracol Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Each May, Alma Rosa Winery welcomes guests to walk through their El Jabali vineyard during their annual Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction event, a scenic, meaningful journey that winds through the vines in support of mental health causes (raising over $1.2 million to date). One of the first stops on the walk is at the crest of a hill, where the Caracol Vineyard — Spanish for “snail” — spirals gracefully beneath the sky. It is here that the grapes for Alma Rosa’s vibrant 2021 Caracol Pinot Noir, the Please The Palate Wine of the Week, are grown.

About Alma Rosa

Located in the cool southern sector of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Alma Rosa was founded by Richard Sanford, an early pioneer of Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County. Today, the winery remains deeply rooted in a philosophy of sustainability, innovation, and respect for the land. Their estate vineyard, El Jabali, thrives in one of California’s most wind-swept and coastal-influenced regions, offering ideal conditions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Winemaker Samra Morris continues the Sanford legacy while bringing her own creative approach to blending and site expression.

Caracol, also known as Block 9, is a spiral-shaped hilltop block on the El Jabali estate vineyard. Originally planted in 2013 by Richard Sanford, the vineyard radiates outward in a pattern that, from above, resembles a snail’s shell.  Each row of the block is planted with a mix of various Pinot Noir clones, creating a true field blend. With each row having a different orientation to the sun and varying exposure to the wind, Caracol captures incredible diversity within a single site. Samra Morris harvests the block in three separate sections to select grapes at different stages of ripeness, resulting in a layered and expressive final wine.

Tasting Notes

The 2021 Caracol Pinot Noir is a beautiful reflection of its unique vineyard. It is powerful yet elegant. It opens with rich aromas of wild strawberry, pomegranate, black cherry, lavender, baking spices, and a hint of sage. On the palate, the wine is vibrant and layered, with juicy dark red fruit notes and subtle earthy undertones. Balanced tannins and a fresh, lively acidity carry the wine to a long, graceful finish.

Food Pairing

Pinot Noir is a food-friendly wine, and the 2021 Caracol Pinot Noir is elegant and versatile enough to enjoy with a variety of dishes. Its rich fruit and balanced freshness make it an ideal pairing for herb-crusted pork tenderloin, roasted duck with cherry sauce, or grilled salmon. It also complements earthy dishes like mushroom risotto or roasted root vegetables, or it can be enjoyed with a charcuterie board featuring aged cheeses and cured meats.

Where To Purchase

The Alma Rosa 2021 Caracol Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills AVA is a special bottle of wine that retails for $125. It is only available directly at Alma Rosa Winery.