26 Mar Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Roark Wine Company 2022 Pocket Full of Stones, Santa Barbara County

Studies suggest that 60-70% of consumers make their wine purchasing decisions based on the label. This means that the label’s design, color, font, imagery, and overall aesthetic significantly influence impulse and first-time purchases. As I looked at the bottles I had in front of me, I understood the allure of a wine label. I was captivated by the colorful images of the wines by Roark Wine Company, almost forgetting about the wine inside. But then I looked at the back label of Pocket Full of Stones and was all the more intrigued by what was inside. It was a blend combining too well-known varieties that usually stand on their own. So, from the label to the blend to the first sip, I knew the Roark Wine Company 2022 Pocket Full of Stones, Santa Barbara County would be the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Roark Wine Company

Ryan Roark was born in northeast Texas. In college, Ryan studied bio-environmental sciences, which is an undergraduate degree in the department of plant pathology and microbiology. He participated in an agricultural exchange program with a school in France and ended up doing an internship with a small winery in the Loire Valley. When his uncle, a geologist and passionate wine consumer who, in his retirement, did individual geologic analysis of vineyards in the Napa Valley, found out about Ryan’s internship, he offered to help Ryan find a job should he ever want to come out to California. Ryan took advantage as he saw the wine industry as a way he could travel and see the world. His uncle introduced him to a few wineries and Ryan got a winemaking/viticulture internship at Etude in Napa. After six months in Napa, Ryan headed to New Zealand for a harvest. Following New Zealand, he was offered jobs in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County. Ryan chose Santa Barbara where he worked for Arcadian Winery for two years. He then shifted into vineyard management for a couple of years. While in this job, he would visit vineyards and write reports, building a strong understanding of different farming techniques and an ability to assess vineyards. Ryan then worked for Andrew Murray Vineyards for two years. In 2009, he started making a little wine after buying some Chenin Blanc and founded his eponymous wine company.

In 2013, Ryan then went out on his own and for 10 years he farmed vineyards and made his wines. Now Ryan also manages and makes the wine at Demetria, while continuing to make wines for himself. Roark Wine Co. is his creative outlet where he can make what he wants to drink. Many of the grapes used in his wines come from vineyards that he farms himself or in partnership with other growers. Ryan focuses on sourcing from vineyards that are farmed responsibly and his goal is to showcase the vintage, varietal, and vineyard in all the wines he makes.

Tasting Notes

Roark Wine Company 2022 Pocket Full of Stones is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. These are two grapes you do not often see together. But Ryan loves the two varieties, which he calls two of the great whites of Santa Barbara County. He made his first Pocket Full of Stones in 2018 with leftovers of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Grenache Blanc. In 2022, he made a more thoughtful blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Chardonnay is from a vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. It is old Wente clone Chardonnay grown on sandy soils. The Sauvignon Blanc is from a vineyard in Santa Ynez that Ryan started working with in 2022. For 2022, he started with the Sauvignon Blanc, which is mineral-driven, and added Chardonnay, which offers texture and creaminess. The sweet spot was 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Chardonnay.

The label, a watercolor designed by Ryan’s wife Jenn, references some of the geology in the area. There is evidence of mudflows and when you make cuts across topography, the soil sort of looks like the label image.

The wine is fermented and aged in neutral French oak fermented. This is a wine that will make you think. You get stone fruit notes and bright, crisp acidity, making you think Sauvignon Blanc. But then you also get notes of apple and a round creaminess on the palate, making you think of Chardonnay.

Food Pairing

Ryan recommended a salmon dish he made all summer. This simple dish sounded so delicious that I tried it. I set the oven to 350 degrees, and filled the pan with chopped shallots, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil for approximately 15 minutes and then added the salmon for another 15 minutes. The wine was a perfect pairing! The acidity of the wine was a match with the fish and the sweet acidity of the cherry tomatoes was a match with the roundness of the wine. I think I will be making this dish again and will have to get some more bottles of Pocket Full of Stones.

Where To Purchase

The Roark Wine Company 2022 Pocket Full of Stones, Santa Barbara County retails for $28 and can be purchased directly on the Roark Wine Company website.