Bridlewood is right up next to the east/west mountain range, which gives the syrah grapes a flavor like nowhere else. 90% of the 105 acre output is syrah, of which we tried three, including the #5 Syrah in the Syrah du Monde competition in France.
Syrah grapes - sweet and juicy, although with bitter, crunchy seeds.
I loved the pipe rail. Elegant yet practical.
Bridlewood has only been a winery for 15 years or so. Previously, it was a racehorse rehabilition facility, and there are racehorses there still, as well as a small track and stables. Remnants of the property's past life show up everywhere.
The cellar used to be the stables.
A horse stall now holds a temperature-controlled cask.
The award-winning Syrah, straight from the cask.
And the final product.
I wanted one of these plants - the texture of the seed pods was like felt. I've never seen something like this before.
Then, we had a lovely lunch in Los Olivos - John had a fresh crabmeat sandwhich, and I had the most lovely salad with cumin-toasted pumpkin seeds, a bleu cheese vinaigrette, avocado and tomato, and then we got coffee and cupcakes at the sweetest little cupcake shop. I adore cupcakes. We got a small flight of them, including some with wine in them - which were of course phenomenal.
