Redbird Signature Wines – Red, White and Cava
Chef Neal Fraser always envisioned having a signature wine custom-made for Redbird to pair with his globally-inspired menu.
Enter (the now late) Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, a well-respected winemaker in the Santa Barbara region and a dear friend of Chef Neal. Jim, having taught many winemakers in the area, collaborated with one of his former mentee’s Bob Lindquist of Qupe, known for his Pinot Noir. Together, with Redbird’s Wine Director, they helped create the Redbird Signature Red Wine.
Searching for a crowd-pleasing and palatable wine that would pair perfectly with Chef Neal’s Modern American cuisine, the team tasted their way through multiple different barrel samples of Pinot Noir. Eventually, Jim and Bob chose to use grapes from two lots in Bien Nacido and one lot from Los Olivos. The combination blends acidic, floral, and bold flavors to create a well-rounded Pinot Noir.
The end result is a delicate, floral and fresh Pinot Noir, offering bright red fruits and an elegant earthy finish. The Redbird Signature Pinot Noir pairs wonderfully with an array of Chef Neal’s dishing from the Red Waddle Pork Chop to the BBQ Tofu.
For the Redbird Signature White Wine, a collaboration was made with Master Sommelier Chris Miller at Seabold Winery in Montery to create a lively and fresh cool climate Sauvignon Blanc. Chris draws heavily from his old world influence and the result is thrilling. The next vintage is resting patiently in tanks, and Redbird | Vibiana Wine Director Christopher Dugan is eagerly awaiting its arrival in the spring.
In addition to bottling custom red and white wines, Redbird | Vibiana also has a custom sparkling wine: a cava from Naveran, a producer in Spain that has harvested cava since 1901. Redbird | Vibiana’s cava is fresh and elegant, versatile and approachable. It lends itself well to everything from mimosas at brunch to wedding toasts.
