The Bargetto Family has a winemaking tradition in the Santa Cruz Mountains that dates back to 1890. The Bargetto Family’s first commercial winery, South Montebello Vineyard and Wine Company, was founded in San Francisco in 1910. Bargetto Winery in Soquel was founded in 1933. Thus, this year Bargetto Winery celebrates 82 years of winemaking in Soquel and remains one of the most historical wineries in California.
On June 7, the new 2011 LA VITA will be released. LA VITA is a blend of Santa Cruz Mountains varietals grown in the Regan Estate Vineyards. The release party will take place in the winery’s creek-side courtyard, and will showcase the new LA VITA Room with its heritage redwood walls and dramatic views of Soquel Creek.
Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of LA VITA goes to a non–profit organization. At the release party, Tandy Beal & Company will be recognized as this year’s LA VITA beneficiary. Tandy Beal & Company is celebrating its 40th anniversary of bringing dance to the Santa Cruz community and is now interacting annually with 20,000 kids in Santa Cruz and neighboring counties. Previous beneficiaries include the Camaldolese Benedictine monks of Big Sur, Jacob’s Heart, Siena House, Hospice, Santa Cruz County Search & Rescue, Good Shepherd School, St. Francis Soup Kitchen and Porter Memorial Library, CASA, YMCA.
This fourteenth release of LA VITA (“life” in Italian) comes from the 2011 vintage. LA VITA is produced from a unique blend of 57% Dolcetto, 35% Refosco and 8% Nebbiolo. This hand-crafted wine was aged for two and one half years in oak barrels and then aged for an additional one year in the bottle prior to release. The 2011 harvest yielded just 4,020 bottles.
The LA VITA release party is set for Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 3-5 p.m. at Bargetto Winery. The release party features the unveiling of the new LA VITA label, tasting of the new wine, live music with Nora Cruz and light appetizers. Tickets are limited to 80 wine club members and 80 general public (cost $25). Tickets can be purchased online at www.bargetto.com or by calling Bargetto Winery at 831.475.2258 x10.