Embracing the Italians’ rich, wonderful lifestyle and attitude toward food, wine, friends, and family, Californians Steve and Chrystal Clifton are doing some amazing things at Palmina Winery. They share a strong conviction that wine should simply be an extension of the plate, and they handcraft an intriguing range of small-lot wines born from Italian varieties grown in California’s Santa Barbara County.

“Our wines need food,” Chrystal enthuses. As if to demonstrate this point, a large, rustic dining table is planted in the middle of the winery’s recently expanded tasting room. Here visitors can sample wines ranging from a delicate Pinot Grigio to a full-bodied Nebbiolo with carefully selected charcuterie, cheeses, olives, and other delicacies.

The Cliftons are purists at heart, applying a robust New World attitude to the Old World methods they’ve learned in Italy. They have resisted the Cal-Ital movement of making “big” wines from Italian grapes. Most Palmina white wines are vinified in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation to allow their aromas to shine through while maintaining a lean mineral palate that complements food. Their red wines are barrel aged in oak and handled in a style befitting the grape variety.
The resulting wines meet with much approval from those who have discovered them. In fact, the Cliftons were recently asked to contribute a selection of their wines for President Barack Obama to present to Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano at his first G8 Summit.

But one doesn’t have to be a dignitary to appreciate the Cliftons’ efforts. Palmina’s cozy enoteca is open to all on Thursdays through Mondays and by appointment on other days in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, located a scenic drive northwest of Santa Barbara. Besides enjoying great conversation and tasting Palmina’s brilliant varietals, guests can purchase a growler (glass jug) of white or red table wine to enjoy with an everyday meal. Growlers are refillable, giving guests another happy reason to return to Palmina Winery again and again.