Outward Wines - 'Presqu'ile Vineyard' - Cabernet Franc, Gamay Noir - Santa Barbara County, CA - 2022

Presqu'ile Vineyard, located on the southwestern end of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, is a very cold and coastal site with a strong influence from the ocean. The vineyard is planted on ancient sand dunes and is certified organic. This Gamay was fermented with native yeast and 50% whole clusters. After 10 days on the skins and stems, the ferment was pressed to tank for a night before moving moved to neutral oak barrels. After 7 months, the wine was bottled without fining or filtration. The 2022 Presqu’ile Gamay delivers a bouquet of earth, herbs, and red fruit. The cool climate of Santa Maria combined with 50% whole cluster fermentation encourages a fresh herbal quality with notes of green and black tea, green peppercorn, and woodsy spice. Below the spice and earth, bright red cherry, goji berry, and pomegranate round the palate, while a core of acidity and well-balanced tannins bring it all together. Only 84 cases produced.

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Outward Wines is a partnership between Natalie Siddique and Ryan Pace. We are focused on producing small-lot, site-specific wines from California’s Central Coast, primarily sourcing fruit from Santa Barbara County. All of the vineyards that we work with are farmed using sustainable, organic, or biodynamic practices and are located in close proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean.

In the cellar we strive to minimize inputs throughout the winemaking process in order to allow for a clear picture of what the site can provide naturally, and to give the wine a true sense of time and place. To that end, we utilize spontaneous yeast to carry out fermentations, and bottle without fining or filtration where possible.

While we do our best to allow the wines to speak for themselves, we also recognize the role and impact of the human element in terroir. Our hands and our decisions are reflected in the wines that we produce, so it is not only an expression of site, but it is our expression of site.

Our winemaking approach is informed by the places we have travelled, the background and experience we have in the wine industry, the wines we have enjoyed and been inspired by, the food we prepare and consume, and the friends and mentors that we consult. All winemaking dogma aside, at the end of the day our goal for these wines is for them to be delicious and to provide pleasure to the end consumer.

Outward is about expression, exploration, adventure, and the unknown. We consistently seek to push ourselves out of our comfort zones whether through adventurous pursuits in the outdoors, working with new vineyards, or simply challenging our own philosophy and approach to winemaking. Outward is our ever-evolving winemaking adventure and we hope you will join us for the ride.