Bargetto Winery
Originally from Piedmont, Italy, the Bargetto Family founded its namesake winery in Soquel in 1933, making it the most historic winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Today, with the third-generation at the helm, they craft rich, intense wines using fruit from their very cool-climate Regan Estate Vineyards, which is nestled atop a knoll overlooking Monterey Bay. The cool micro-climate affords a long growing season, leading to full flavored, rich wines. Within the estate vineyard is a three-acre section dedicated to three northern Italian red varietals: Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, and Refosco. These varieties had never before been grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They use this tasty trio to craft their signature blend, LA VITA (Italian for “life”).
“LA VITA displays a unique blend of old-world varietals from the Piedmont/Veneto regions in Italy and showcases our California winemaking style,” says Director of Winemaking John Bargetto. Their handcrafting techniques include fermenting the wine in small bins then aging in fine oak barrels. “LA VITA is our longest-aged wine,” says John. “After 23 to 30 months in barrel, we bottle and then let it rest for an additional 18 months before release.”
With the first LA VITA blend in 1997, John inaugurated a series of labels that depict wine in art throughout the ages. With each vintage, part of the proceeds is contributed to a non-profit. “We are pleased to be able to give back to the Santa Cruz community, which has been so supportive of Bargetto Winery and the Bargetto family through the years. The 2018 LA VITA beneficiary is Housing Matters!”
The fabulous wines we featured:
- Retail Price: $65.00
- Your Price: $63.00
2018 Regan Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains LA VITA Red Wine
- 98 Points, Double Gold Medal, Best of Region Red, California State Fair
- Pair with: Creamy cheeses, rich Italian dishes, tri-tip, and meatballs.
- Enjoy now or hold up to 10 years.
Tasting Notes: Refosco and Dolcetto contribute dark fruit and body to the blend, while Nebbiolo brings lively aromatics and its beautiful brick-red color. Notes of black plum and cranberry are met with black pepper, licorice, and savory spice. The wine’s firm tannins have softened up beautifully.
2020 Mount Eden, Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
- 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
- Pair with: Rack of lamb, grilled salmon, Gouda cheese, and eggplant parmesan.
- Enjoy now or hold up to 1 year.
Tasting Notes: Fruit-forward and vibrant, with a delectable richness on the palate. Jammy fruit aromatics are complemented nicely by elegant French oak aromas. On the palate, ripe fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and boysenberry. Tannins are elegant and smooth, giving it a wonderfully plush mouthfeel.
Winemaker's Notes
2018 Regan Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains LA VITA Red Wine: The Regan Estate Vineyards is located on a southwest slope in the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking the majestic Monterey Bay. This cool climate vineyard allows the grapes to develop rich and complex flavors over an exceptionally long growing season. The wine aged for 23 months in 25% new French and American oak barrels.
2019 Mount Eden, Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir: All fruit for this wine came from certified sustainable very cool-climate Regan Estate Vineyards, which is nestled atop a knoll overlooking Monterey Bay in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Clonal composition is 90% Mount Eden and 10% Pommard. Aged for 10 months in French oak (40% new). The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Bargetto Family
John Bargetto