Solminer x Satellite - 'Gamma Ray' - Gamay - Santa Rita Hills, CA - 2025

Satellite's Hot Take

Another banger from the gang at Sominer - we coudn't be more stoked.

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Check out our latest collab with Solminer! Super fresh - full flavored - majestic. This wine is super alive and brimming with fresh blue/purple fruity goodness that gamay is so good at. There's a kiss of salty-savory goodness that screams and makes this wine amazing with all kinds of food (and anytime there isn't food too!). Complex and deep but light as a feather and ready for your next get together. The Kessler Haak vineyard is radical and incredibly well farmed. We decided to add a touch of so2 this year to ensure stability and this wine will absolutely rock this year and for years to come. --- Notes on Kessler Haak Vineyard Planted in 2005, soils in the vineyard vary from sandy to sandy loam with patches of clay loam. 7 Pinot Noir clones on 3 different rootstocks are planted amongst 30 acres of the vineyard's rolling hillsides. A 2.5 acre east-facing hillside was reserved for 3 clones of Chardonnay (76,96,95), planted on low vigor 110R rootstock to showcase the exceptional character of cool climate Chardonnay. Over the years, we have grafted some of our Pinot Noir to heritage Chardonnay clones from Clos Pepe and Sanford vineyards and additional clone 96 Chardonnay. Another 2 acres of pinot noir was grafted to Syrah along with 2 acres of Gamay Noir and 1/3 acre of heritage Riesling from Lafond vineyard. Although we are not a certified organic vineyard, vineyard practices are strictly organic. Our farming approach strives for balance, harmony and co-existence between the vines and plant, animal and insect populations. We use no pesticides or herbicides and only organic fertilizers. Weed control is done mechanically.  Pest control is done through natural predators (hawks, badgers and coyotes) and trapping.

Notes on the Producer

Read up on our homies at Solminer! We've made more collaborations with David and Anna than any other winery and we're so in love with what they do - and how they do it. Pragmatic natural vignerons to the core. What is Solminer? Sol-miner as in mining the “Sun” which in turn nourishes the soul. The name inspires us to discover and unearth the treasures in the soils of the California Central Coast. Our decisions have always been personal (not commercial) and involve what we call “conscious farming”. As we learn about our little piece of earth and our place in it, the picture begins to widen. We’ve incorporated chickens, grazing sheep, the lunar calendar, biodynamic compost, preparations and teas all to support the microorganisms in the dirt and health of the vineyard. We have a feeling of connectedness as each trip around the sun gives us the chance to experience the magical process of exchange from the dirt, plants, fruit, wine, humans, sky, moon, sun and stars. Anna & David deLaski Farming winemakers The first seed was planted meeting in 2009 and falling in love with Santa Barbara wine country and each other. We married soon after and while visiting Anna’s family in Austria, a desire to settle down and create a life together in a more agricultural setting started to take root. A chance meeting with a winemaking mentor and a property for sale with vines in the front yard grew into something we could no longer ignore. We went “all in” and decided to buy a fixer farmhouse and vineyard in Los Olivos and call the fruits of our labor of love “Solminer”. Estate deLanda Farm and Vineyard Certified Regenerative Organic and Biodynamic We named our home vineyard “deLanda” a combination of our first and last names. It reflects our personal desire to produce natural wines using varietals related to our Austrian heritage. First certified organic in 2014, Biodynamic in 2018 and ROC Regenerative Organic in 2021, deLanda is evolving as we evolve as farmers. Ultimately it shines with individuality and biodiversity as we incorporate chickens, donkeys, sheep, bees, fruit trees, native plants, biodynamic compost, preparations and herb teas all to support the microorganisms in the dirt and health of the vineyard. Austrian Inspired Natural wines Wines reflect the place Our personal desire is to reflect the vineyard in the wine and experiment with Austrian varietals. Since the beginning, we thought Grüner Veltliner would do well here and soon after we discovered that the Austrian red grape, Blaufränkisch, is perfect for our climate as well. We’ve rounded things out with a bit of Muscat to create an Austrian inspired dry “Muskateller” and some Syrah for Rose, Sparkling Syrah, a blend and a single vineyard Syrah. We also have new plantings of Riesling to add to our sources from neighboring vineyards that we have selected for their climate, soils and sustainable growing practices. About 2000 cases are produced each year

Grapes & Style

Gamay

Gamay is the red grape of Beaujolais, and one of the best arguments for light-bodied red wine that still has energy, detail, and real character. It’s genetically related to Pinot Noir through the same Pinot and Gouais Blanc parentage, but it has its own personality: more immediate, more exuberant, and often more forgiving at the table.

In the vineyard, Gamay buds early and can be productive, so yield control matters. It thrives on the granitic soils of Beaujolais, especially in the crus, where it can move from juicy and playful to structured and quietly serious. It’s also found in the Loire and a few other cool-to-moderate regions where freshness is easy to preserve.

In the glass, Gamay often shows red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, violet, pepper, and a bright, mouthwatering lift. Some versions are simple and gulpable; the best cru Beaujolais can be savory, mineral, and surprisingly ageworthy. It’s a grape we love for its ability to be joyful without being unserious.