Brander Vineyards
Los Olivos District, Santa Ynez Valley
Brander Vineyard is one of Santa Barbara Country’s legacy wineries, and founder Fred Brander is rightly considered a pioneer in the region. After completing studies at UC Davis, he interned with David Stare at Dry Creek Vineyard, and in 1975 planted a 40-acre vineyard just outside Los Olivos. Fred’s interest in France’s Bordeaux region led him to specialize in Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, and his early success showed the potential for these varieties in the warmer regions of the county. His firm belief in the uniqueness of his vineyard’s microclimate led him to pursue an AVA specific to the area, and in 2016 the Los Olivos District was approved. Brander produces Cabernet Sauvignon and a range of stylistic Sauvignon Blanc bottlings, including single-vineyard wines. His Sauvignon Blancs are widely considered California benchmarks for the variety.
Wines
Sauvignon Blanc
Los Olivos District AVA
This is the wine that made Brander Vineyards - a trendsetting Sauvignon Blanc that came to define a region. Made with a majority of estate fruit, the clean and crisp style that’s beloved by so many was crafted by large diurnal shifts and unfussy stainless-steel aging. The results have been consistently lauded since their first vintage in 1977, with the label quickly becoming synonymous with both Brander and the Los Olivos District.
Au Naturel Sauvignon Blanc
Los Olivos District AVA
Au Naturel is made from the finest lots of Brander’s estate vineyards, carefully selected each year by the winemaking team. Attentive and diligent winemaking further define the character of the wine, with only free run juice used and careful lees aging building the rich yet delicate structure of the wine. The wine shows a concentrated and luscious profile, bristling with bright tropical fruit and tempered by a stony backbone.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Los Olivos District AVA
Brander takes immense pride in their Bordeaux varietal plantings – perhaps none more-so than their Cabernet Sauvignon. Composed mostly of estate fruit, the wine is destemmed and fermented in large vats before aging for 15 months in 25% new French oak. The straightforward style yields a California Cabernet of subtlety and nuance, with an ethereal old-world soul behind plush, ruby tinged fruit and silky tannins.
People
Fred Brander
Fred started his namesake winery in 1975, after studying chemistry and enology while also engaging in wine sales and importing. Early critical success for his Sauvignon Blanc propelled the winery to “benchmark” status for the varietal, placing him at the forefront of what the wine should look and feel like.
Fabian Bravo
Fabian grew up surrounded by viticulture in the Santa Lucia Highlands, perhaps making it no wonder that he eventually found his way into a winery. With Fred Brander as his mentor, Fabian carries on the tradition of clean, varietally specific wines in this unique part of California.
