Sevtap Tasting Room, Solvang CA

Every time I visited Solvang, I kept hearing about this new tasting room called Sevtap.  There are 2 for 1 tasting cards everywhere you look, and one of the tasting rooms we went to the trip prior highly recommended the place.  We had a little time and finally decided to check it out.  From the outside, it looks like a little hole in the wall, but inside is party central.  There was a karaoke stage, chalk all over the walls, and great eclectic music! I found myself singing along at a few different points.  Everywhere you look is furniture made from barrels (including a dog bed!) which adds to the fun atmosphere.  I would say this tasting room definitely caters to the younger crowd.  Mr. Sevtap himself poured the wines, and he had a very fun, flirty attitude.  For a newer tasting room and winemaker (about 3 years), he did a great job!  The one thing that needs work is his website.  Visit it here. Also, forgive the photograph quality - this tasting room was much too dark for proper photos, but you can see better pictures of his wine and labels on his website. 

The tasting was $10, and including 5 different wines. 

Ginger & Isis Semillon (2012), $24: "This dry Semillon has a pineapple and peach aroma.  It is very light, crisp and delicious."

• Color - clear with a slight yellow tinge.
• Aroma - very fruity with hints of pineapple and lime.
• Taste - crisp on the forefront with a smooth finish.
• ABV - N/A
• Overall - This wasn't amazing, but it wasn't bad.  The aroma was especially pleasant.  I thought it was cute that he named it after his dogs. 

Serendipity Sauvignon Blanc (2010), $26: "Fruity Sauvignon Blanc with a great caramel finish. If you like slight sweetness on your Sauvignon Blanc this is the wine for you."

• Color - clear yellow with hints of green.
• Aroma - sweet and sugary.
• Taste - very unique flavor; semi-sweet forward with a caramel finish.
• ABV - 14%
• Overall - I surprisingly really enjoyed this wine, even though its a white.  It had that unique caramel flavor to it that I really enjoyed.  I could definitely have a couple glasses of this.

Maya Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Blend (2010), $35: "This smooth bordeaux blend contains 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot, wine aged in French oak barrels for 16 months."

• Color - bright burgundy.
• Aroma - sweet, maybe raspberry?
• Taste - cherry, with a tart finish.  Medium bodied.
• ABV - 14%
• Overall - This was an enjoyable wine, one of my favorites of the tasting.  It was just fruity enough to be tasty, but definitely not overpowering and keeping with its Cabernet characteristics.

Andrea Petit Verdot (2011), $34: "This wine has a nice deep reddish-purple color that immediately grabs your attention with the way it coats the glass.  Cigar box and leather with a hint of violet aroma follow by a well balanced acidity and very smooth tannins on the palate."

• Color - pretty deep burgundy.
• Aroma - sweet with hints of cherry; musty and almost floral.
• Taste - slightly smoky and complex with black cherry.  It has a deep finish that sticks to the tongue.
• ABV - 14%
• Overall - This was my favorite wine of the tasting by far, and one of my first experiences with Petit Verdot.  It had a perfect balance of flavors that made it both pleasantly fruity and yet deep and complex.

Nesrin Petit Verdot and Merlot (2011), $32: "50% Petit Verdot and 50% Merlot blend, aged 12 months in French oak barrels.  Nice earthy tones with chocolate tobacco notes and a toasted almond finish."

• Color - pretty and dark.
• Aroma - somewhat sweet at first smell, but gets earthier.
• Taste - not as smooth, fruit forward with a tart finish. Noticeable tannins, musty.
• ABV - 14%
• Overall - Both my friend and I didn't enjoy this wine as much as the rest, it made us wince a bit.