In the small crossroad town of Los Olivos, California, a handsome old barn wood sign with the name “Blair Fox” stands along the street. Those familiar with the region’s finest wines realize they’ve come across something special: the tiny tasting room where renowned Winemaker Blair Fox and his wife Sarah pour their family’s own boutique wines.
A Santa Barbara native, Blair earned a degree in Viticulture and Enology at UC-Davis. He consulted for Fess Parker Winery and then spent a year making wine in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Upon his return, he became Rhône Varietal Winemaker for Fess Parker in 2003, and named Head Winemaker in 2005. Blair was awarded the André Tchelistcheff ?Winemaker of the Year award at the 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition and is widely considered to be one of Santa Ynez Valley’s top winemakers.
“I like making wines on a large scale as well as a small scale” Blair says. “My own wines are hand farmed and produced in very small lots, so I can get my hands dirty.”
Blair strategically sources his fruit from some of the county’s finest vineyards including his own: The Fox Family Vineyard, located in the hills not far from his tasting room. His grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, fermented in small lots, and basket pressed to best maintain the character of their origin. His efforts have not gone unnoticed. In fact, they have been praised by leading wine critics like Robert Parker who says, “Blair Fox…fashions small lots of exceptionally high quality wines…most of these are very limited production cuvées, but they are unquestionably worthy of consumer interest.” All of the wines consistently earn high scores of 90 points or more.
In the tiny tasting room designed by Sarah, guests frequently sign up for the wine club. These exclusive wines are exceptional, and with the name Blair Fox on the label, they can be certain that future releases will be just as fabulous.
WHAT TO BUY
’12 Vermentino – $25
Gardenia, honeysuckle, white peach, citrus, honeydew
’10 Tierra Alta Vineyard Syrah – $39
Black cherry, black raspberry, baking spices, vanilla
’09 The Ambush – $60
Plum, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, milk chocolate.
CONTACT
805-691-1678
info@blairfoxcellars.com
blairfoxcellars.com
TASTING
Tasting Room Open Fri–Sun 12–5 by appointment
2902 San Marcos Ave, Ste. B
Los Olivos, CA 93441
SPECIAL NOTES
Hand farmed and organically grown estate vineyard, winemaker/owner on site, wine club discounts.
Touring & Tasting is a media company that produces a wine and travel magazine and is also partner in the Hitched Wine Club.
Steve Cooper is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Hitched. You can follow him on Twitter at @hitchedmedia.
