Teffy - 'Nolan Vineyard' - Gamay - Alisos Canyon, Santa Barbara County, CA - 2025

Notes from the Winery/Importer

The Nolan Vineyard sits at the northeastern corner of Alisos Canyon, just south of Santa Maria Valley. Mountains running east/west open to the Pacific Ocean, funneling marine air through the canyon and cooling the grapes in the mornings and evenings. Partial whole-cluster fermentation fills out the texture and adds savory nuance to the wine. This Gamay can be enjoyed young but should develop gracefully over many years.

Notes on the Producer

The Name In 1989 a baby girl was born in Panama. At her sister’s insistence, her parents agreed to name her Stephanie. On his way to the registration office, this baby’s father, overwhelmed with joy and expectation, forgot the chosen name and instead printed his wife’s name on the forms - Lydia, because the baby “looked just like her mom.” From then on, and to this day, baby Lydia has been referred to as “Teffy” (short for Stephanie) by her family in Panama. As the name for our wines grown in Santa Barbara, this beloved moniker has finally been made official. WHO WE ARE Teffy Wines is a partnership between Lydia Richards and Stephen Searle, two passionate wine professionals from diverse backgrounds, brought together by a shared love of wine, food, and culture. What began as a mutual appreciation has grown into a lifelong collaboration, and a dream realized: crafting and sharing wines that reflect who we are and what we love. We are rooted in Santa Barbara, a region whose extraordinary range of climatic and geological conditions allows for wines of precision, nuance and depth. The varietals we work with were chosen with intention. Chenin Blanc, Gamay and Syrah each beautifully convey their sense of place while remaining endlessly versatile at the table. For us, wine is about more than what is in the glass. It is the sound of a cork being pulled. It is the first sip. It is the laughter that fills a room. It is the ritual, the connection, the joy. It is the community. It is made to be shared. Lydia Richards From a young age, growing up in Panama, Lydia learned that wine is more than a beverage, it is a bridge. She watched her mother and aunts gather around the table, sharing bottles and stories about life, love, and resilience. Wine, in their hands, was community. Stephen Searle Stephen is a native of Northern California, though wine was not a staple in the home growing up. It was in college, studying music in Boston and waiting tables in some of the city’s premier restaurants, where Stephen was bitten by the proverbial wine bug.

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.