Outside Los Olivos Cafe, in the same Santa Barbara region as the Hitching Post, that Miles makes his famous statement, 'If anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I'm not drinking any f***ing Merlot.'
The owners of the Buellton, California restaurant, Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini, made their first Merlot in 1979. Their main production is 12 different Pinots, as well as a Syrah and a Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend.
Now they are producing two new Merlots, the 2004 Westerly Vineyard and 2005 Alisos Vineyard, both retailing for US$25. In June they will release a third, 2006 Merlot Santa Barbara County.
'Merlot has always been an under-appreciated grape in Santa Barbara, and the slam from the movie didn't help matters either,' Hartley said.
'Santa Barbara Merlot offers a great price-to-wine quality ratio. This kind of value is typical of undiscovered gems until they are found by the masses.'
Merlot watchers say that in recent years Santa Barbara growers have learnt a good deal about the appropriate locations to grow the grape – generally inland areas that are warmer than the coastal valleys where Pinot does best.
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Just a minor point. Miles complains about Merlot outside of the Los Olivos Cafe. Another fine establishment in the Santa Ynez Valley. Either way, considering the amount of fame the Hitching Post gained from the movie, a great direction for merlot fans.
Amy Otto
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