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Behind the Vine
Potek Winery’s Dave Potter launches tasting room in The Mill downtown
by Hana-Lee Sedgwick
Hana-Lee Sedgwick is a digital advertising executive by day and wine consultant and blogger by night. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, she fell in love with the world of wine while living in San Francisco after college. Hana-Lee loves to help people learn about and appreciate wine, putting her Sommelier certification to good use. When not trying new wines or traveling, she can be found practicing yoga, cooking, entertaining, and enjoying time with friends and family. For more information and wine tips, visit her blog, Wander & Wine, at wanderandwine.com.
POTEK WINERY ANCHORS THE MILL
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avid Potter is no stranger to the world of wine. After all, he’s worked in the wine industry since college and has owned the uber-hip Municipal Winemakers for several years, which has successful tasting rooms in both Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone and Los Alamos. As you may have learned in James Buckley’s story on The Mill back in May, David has added yet another job title to the mix: owner of Potek Winery. Potek, which recently opened a tasting room and production space in downtown’s The Mill, is a venture that’s taking David on a new journey, and one that he’s excited about. At Muni, the approach is all about keeping things relaxed, casual – and most of all, fun. The wines are all affordable and meant to be consumed a bit younger. At Potek Winery, David’s going for a more
focused, intimate tasting experience. Think single-vineyard bottlings, different glassware for different wines at the tasting bar, and the ability to reserve a spot for a sit-down tasting paired with light bites. There’s still the ability to drop in for a tasting or get a glass of wine on tap on the casual patio, but the goal is to provide opportunities to dive deeper into the whole wine experience. Nothing about it comes off as stuffy; rather, it’s geared toward encouraging conversation about what’s in your glass and taking the time to really enjoy it. The name Potek comes from David’s great grandfather, whose name was Berl Potek. Upon his immigration into the United States from Romania in the early 1900s, Berl’s name was changed to Benjamin Potter. David chose “Potek” not only to pay homage to family, but
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because the story of an immigrant’s search for a better life and finding reinvention is somewhat similar to the world of winemaking. The approach to winemaking in California is constantly evolving, with vintners adapting traditional techniques while exploring ways to make something even better. So, let’s talk about the space! The 3,500-square-foot facility is industrial and modern with some traditional touches. The facility, which is where production of both labels will take place, has a tasting bar somewhat open to the winemaking space. So, not only do tasters get to sample in a beautiful spot, they also get to witness the action up close and personal. Potek produces roughly 700 cases of Riesling, Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, with a focus on small, single-vineyard bottlings sourced from throughout Santa Barbara County. The wines might be at a higher price point than Municipal, but they spend more
time aging in (mostly neutral) oak and in the bottle before being released for consumption, allowing for more complex flavors to develop. I was able to taste a few of the current releases and found all the wines to have lovely nuances and great texture. The 2013 Kick On Ranch Dry Riesling ($35), from Los Alamos, was fermented on the skins before being pressed to barrel halfway through fermentation. I found it to have similarities to Muni’s Bright White with its crisp flavors, but with more texture and complexity. I also enjoyed the 2012 Tierra Alta Syrah ($45) from Ballard Canyon, which had really enticing gamey, asphalt, and olive aromas with a soft, clean finish. Overall, it had rich flavors and nice minerality showing through from the vineyard site’s chalky soils. Although Potek Winery is the sole business up and running at The Mill, the place is a destination in and of itself and a wonderful addition to the Santa Barbara wine scene. Soon, it’ll be in good company once the much-anticipated Wildwood Kitchen BBQ and Third Window Brewing open next door. Wine and pulled pork? I’ll take it.
Potek Winery (in The Mill), 412 East Haley Street
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