Camins 2 Dreams - 'Donnachadh Vineyard' - Syrah - Sta Rita Hills AVA, CA - 2022

@camins2dreams

Notes from the Winery/Importer

2022 was our first vintage working with Donnachadh Vineyard, which is situated on the southeast side of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, with its Syrah grapes planted in sandy-loam soil near the Santa Ynez River Bed. To capture the true essence of the terroir, we fermented the grapes with natural yeast and refrained from adding any S02 until bottling. This resulted in a wine that is unfined and unfiltered, allowing its purest expression to shine through. Our Syrah boasts a deep garnet color that catches the eye. It greets the nose with enticing aromas of spices like nutmeg, clove, and pepper, accompanied by subtle notes of espresso coffee. On the palate, you’ll discover a delightful combination of dark fruit and chocolate flavors. With its medium body and rounded tannins, the wine offers a harmonious balance. The fresh finish adds a refreshing touch, making it a versatile choice for immediate enjoyment or for aging gracefully over time.

Notes on the Producer

Camins 2 Dreams represents the routes and paths we follow to achieve our dreams. Camins 2 Dreams was founded in 2017. Our grapes are sourced from vineyards in Santa Barbara County with a focus in Sta. Rita Hills. Our philosophy is to make hand-crafted, terroir-driven wines that are fermented with natural yeast and use minimal intervention in the winery, with only minimum amounts of SO2 at bottling. Our wines are also unfined and unfiltered. We believe wine is made in the vineyard and we want to showcase the typicity of each site where the grapes come from. We source fruit from vineyards that share in the same values of respect for the land, the environment, and their workers. We work exclusively with organic, biodynamic, and regenerative vineyards. We are a team of two winemakers, Mireia Taribó and Tara Gomez, wife and wife, whose paths first crossed in 2006 through our work in the wine industry. Our friendship grew through wine and travels, which also sparked our love. Our journey of friendship, love, and wine now continues as together we found our dream winery, Camins 2 Dreams.

Grapes & Style

Syrah

Syrah is a northern Rhône grape with a serious range, capable of making dark, structured, savory reds without needing the sheer weight of Cabernet. Its home is places like Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas, and Saint-Joseph, but it has traveled widely, especially to Australia, California, South Africa, and parts of the Mediterranean.

In the vineyard, Syrah tends to like warmth, but not excessive heat. In cooler sites it can be peppery, floral, and lifted; in warmer places it becomes darker, richer, and more generous. It has relatively small berries and can produce wines with deep color, good tannin, and a strong savory profile.

In the glass, Syrah often shows black fruit, violet, black pepper, olive, smoke, meat, and spice. The best examples have density without feeling clumsy — dark-fruited and structured, but still aromatic and full of detail. We tend to love Syrah when it keeps that savory edge and doesn’t lose its freshness.