Samra Morris, Winemaker at highly regarded Alma Rosa Winery in Sta. Rita Hills AVA, is the first Bosnian-American to hold the position of woman winemaker in California. With a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and a Master’s degree in Food Quality and Control from the University of Sarajevo, Samra is in a category by herself. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Samra at the Alma Rosa tasting room in Solvang where conversation ensued and thought-provoking wines were poured.
Samra Morris, Winemaker at Alma Rosa – Photo Credit: The Vintner Project
During our chat, I learned that Samra Morris, who has been at Alma Rosa since 2019, is committed to embracing a variety of challenges and attending to detail in every aspect. Prior to her stint at Alma Rosa, Samra honed her skills as harvest intern with Thomas Rivers Brown for three harvests and was part of the cellar team at Michael Mondavi Family Estate. At these positions and elsewhere in the industry, she “was drawn to the variations of individual vineyards sites and how they impact wines.”
“When the farming is impeccable, very little work needs to be done to shape the wine in the cellar.” Samra stated that at Alma Rosa’s organic, sustainable winery, “we focus on quality not quantity.” Currently, a total of 6000-7000 cases are produced from vineyards along a 4 mile stretch on Santa Rosa Road. The goal is to produce no more than 10,000 cases.
“I have fallen in love with vineyards – each shows its beauty.” Samra spends many hours in the vineyards, but has a penchant for spending time in the lab, too. Running experiments and analyzing scientific aspects of wine as well as indulging in her fascination for the chemistry of fermentation characterize her curiosity for learning and exploration.
Alma Rosa Winery was originally founded in 2005 by Santa Barbara wine pioneers, Richard and Thekla Sanford. Richard Sanford was responsible for planting the first Pinot Noir grapes in the Sta. Rita Hills in 1971 and was responsible for “developing some of the region’s most revered Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards, including Alma Rosa’s El Jabali estate vineyard originally planted in 1983 on silty clay loam soil.” This vineyard is one of the first organically certified vineyard on the Central Coast and is part of Sanford’s legacy. His vision was to produce “consistently balanced wines through organic farming.”
Photo Credit: Alma Rosa Winery
Bob and Barb Zorich have owned Alma Rosa (Alma means “soul” and Rosa indicates the southern geographical feature of the Sta. Rita Hill AVA, the Santa Rosa Hills) since 2014. They have as their purpose to produce wines “that are emblematic of the best that Sta. Rita Hills AVA has to offer.” Growing conditions in Sta. Rita Hills AVA include abundant sunshine and the cooling influence of winds and fog from the Pacific Ocean. Clay-loam soils, chilly climate conditions and distinct geography of rolling northwestern exposures were elements that lured Richard Sanford to the region years ago. Samra shared that he used to say that the Sta. Rita Hills AVA offered “refrigerated sunshine.” Because of the conditions, lively acidity, elegant aromas and a bright palate profile characterize the wines of Alma Rosa.
628 acres are part of the Alma Rosa Estate where Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a small amount of Syrah and Grenache are cultivated. Vineyard-designate wines from premium sites (La Encantada, Bentrock and Rancho La Vina, for example) are also produced. Rounding out the portfolio are two rose wines, a Vin Gris of Pinot Noir and a rose of Grenache, and small amounts of Grenache Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Grenache, Syrah and Methode Champenois sparkling wine.
Of note is that Santa Barbara County was one of the only wine regions on the West Coast unaffected by fires in 2020. At Alma Rosa, the 2020 vintage began with rain in March and April resulting in a delayed bud break. An ideal early growing season with daily wind and fog from the Pacific Ocean, “the 2020 vintage differentiated itself from recent vintages due to several heat events prior to harvest. The resulting crop yielded fruit with ideal ripeness and character, which is evident in these two wines.”
At the tasting room, our first glass of Alma Rosa Vin Gris of Pinot Noir 2020 ($35) was poured. It’s a wine Samra likened to a classic Provence rose – light, refreshing, lip-smacking. Lush strawberry and melon notes were intense on the nose and on the palate, vibrant acidity framed chalky minerality and notes of pink citrus.
Lush and balanced was Alma Rosa Chardonnay El Jabali 2020 ($50), blended from 2 separate blocks for the purpose of complexity. Intense aromas of white flowers, herbs, and bright jasmine led to flavors of tropical fruit, melon, stone fruit, lemon peel. The creamy mouthfeel and lingering finish were superb. 50% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel and the balance was fermented in new, second and third use barrels. The barrel half underwent malolactic fermentation with 10 months ageing on the lees.
Sipped side by side were Alma Rosa Pinot Noir El Jabali 2020 ($85) and Alma Rosa Pinot Noir La Encantada 2020 ($78). “It’s hard to work with Pinot, but it’s also very rewarding. Pinot gives me more challenge – it needs more attention,” stated Samra. Both wines were aged on their lees and were unfined and unfiltered.
Pinot from El Jabali was vibrant, concentrated and textured from beginning to end. Aromas and flavors of fresh cherries, raspberries, strawberries, sage, thyme, earth, nuts, pepper, cola and roses were framed with soft tannins and bright acidity. The finish was lengthy and complex. The wine was aged for 16 months in French oak.
La Encantada vineyard is located on diatomaceous earth and was planted by Richard Sanford in 2000. Rich aromas of roses, pomegranate, sage, baking spice, cherries and strawberries led to notes of chalk, salt, oak and crushed red fruit on a bed of firm tannic structure. Elegant and enticing with a laser-beam focus, pour this wine now or cellar for a few more years.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
Located in downtown Solvang at 1623 Mission Drive is the sunshine-filled Alma Rosa Tasting Room that’s the perfect spot to taste the winery’s small production, vineyard-designated wines. Samra stated that at the Ranch House at the vineyard property, guests may experience a wine and cheese experience and/or a hiking tour and tasting.
