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Ryan Carr’s journey from art student to accomplished winemaker is a testament to the unpredictable and beautiful twists that life can take. His path led him to the captivating world of wine almost by chance, yet his passion and dedication have transformed Carr Winery into a thriving venture with two wine tasting locations, a winery, and brand that has fans across the US.
His 2019 Carr Cabernet Franc is masterclass in warm climate Cabernet Franc, and his lighttouch as a winemaker – all of the grapes were hand-harvested and lightly crushed – is a testament to a less-is-more ethos that makes wines like this in high demand.
Carr Winery is owned by winemaker and grower Ryan Carr. Ryan wasn’t someone who had a burning desire to own a winery and have his own label, in fact, it was by chance that he developed an interest in wine at all.
After he earned an art degree from the University of Arizona, Carr decided to move to Santa Barbara’s beautiful wine country. He wasn’t necessarily drawn to wine, but after casually visiting a few of the local wineries in Santa Ynez, he discovered that he really liked the stuff.
There was nothing glamorous about Ryan’s trajectory to becoming a winemaker; he didn’t intern at a wine brand or tasting room, he actually started pruning vines for a vineyard management company. In 1998, when it came time to harvest, he was allowed in the winemaking facility so that he could observe the process, and they even let him work with some of the grapes.
After that harvest in 1998, things really accelerated for Ryan. The following year, he purchased a small amount of grapes from a friend and produced his first wine in his garage. This 10 case “vintage” was received so well by his friends and family that he decided this whole wine thing was something he wanted to pursue full-time.
Over the next five years, he grew production to 1,000 cases, started a vineyard development company with a fellow winemaking friend, Andy Kahn (Kahn Wines), and opened a winery of his own in 2007!
The Happy Canyon AVA is located on the easternmost side of California’s Santa Ynez Valley and is one of the region’s warmest grape growing regions. Vineyards located here benefit from some pretty dramatic elevations that can swing from 800 ft to around 3,400 ft!
Late ripening varieties like Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot do really well in this pocket of Santa Barbara County because those long warm days are buttressed by cool evenings. And, despite the prime growing locations being inland, the vines still receive a slight marine influence from the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to this Cabernet Franc, winemaker Ryan Carr also crafts Sauvignon Blancs, Viognoir, Chardonnay, a Rosé, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sangiovese, and a carbonic (or, Carrbonic, as they call it) Cab Franc that is meant to be served chilled.
Carr is one of the few Central Coast wineries to have a tasting room on both its home turf in the Santa Ynez Valley and in downtown Santa Barbara. Both the Santa Ynez warehouse and the Santa Barbara tasting room offer full flights, wines by the glass, bottle service, and wines to go.
Cabernet Franc is an easy-to-pair food wine. The grape has a good amount of acidity, and its medium to full body profile gives it a very food-friendly feel. Try pairing this wine with hearty, roasted meats or rich stews, or simply sip it on its own.
USA
Santa Barbara County | Happy Canyon AVA
100% Cabernet Franc - Clones: 01, 332
14
Ryan Carr
62–68°F / 16–20°C
Burgundy
1 Hour
Now to 2035
Carr Vineyards & Winery
The 2019 Carr Cabernet Franc is a deep garnet color in the glass. The nose is a captivating blend of ripe black currants, succulent blackberries, briny olives, green bell pepper, fresh grass, subtle leather, and rich dark chocolate. The palate on this wine says ‘Cabernet Franc’ through and through. The green bell pepper and deep blackberry notes are easy to pick-up, and the distinct herbaceousness (lots of oregano), of this grape is front and center. We also picked up hints of olives, sweet cherries, white pepper spice, mineral graphite, and tobacco.
The structure of the wine is good, and the acidity and tannins are pronounced, but balanced. When you sip this wine, except a long, lingering finish, and a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel.
Ryan Carr’s 2019 Cabernet Franc is a great wine from one of California’s underrecognized wine regions. The California wine market is getting more and more crowded, and finding high-quality value bottles from family-owned wineries isn’t easy. Lucky for us wine lovers, Ryan Carr and Carr Winery deliver both. This brand is one to watch, and we can’t wait to try his future vintages.
