L
éal Vineyards in Hollister released two new vintages in November
and already has seen a good amount of interest in them.
Léal Vineyards in Hollister released two new vintages in November and already has seen a good amount of interest in them.
The 2002 crop of the syrah and merlot, the second from the winery’s vines, is following the success of last year’s vintage.
“Since 2001 was the first year the vineyards produced, the wines have been more concentrated and flavored since then,” said owner Frank Léal. “As the quality of the newer releases gets better and better, it is only a matter of time before San Benito County gets on the map.”
Food and Wine Magazine described the syrah as “soft” and “fleshy,” “offering a sensual mingling of smokiness and bright, cranberry-inflected fruit.”
The vineyard was also named to the magazine’s October list of 20 Best New Wineries in the world.
“It is more on the elegant side and is more floral,” Léal said. “The wines are all done in a California style, not in the French style.”
The merlot received four gold medal awards last year, at the International Eastern Wine Competition, the L.A. and Orange County fairs and from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Léal currently has four 2002 vintages on the market, including the chardonnay and cabernet.
The winery has produced 5,000 cases of the 2002 vintage, and about 20 percent of those have already been sold, Léal said.
“It took about three months last year to get where we are now,” said Léal about the success of the two new wines.
About 30 percent of the wines will stay in the area, while the rest will be marketed throughout the country, Léal said.
“We want to be in high-end restaurants, but we want to remain local to keep the people who have supported us happy,” Léal said. “Wine sales really took off when we first started marketing. Now we’re figuring out how to move the product while keeping vendors happy.”
Léal and his partner, David Griffith, purchased the 45 acres south of Hollister in 1998 and built the 10,000-square-foot facility.
Léal Vineyards is open 11am to 5pm. For more information, call (831) 636-1023 or visit www.lealvineyards.com.
