The mission at Verdad is to make delicious small production wines from Spanish grape varieties grown on the cool Central Coast of California. The wines express true varietal character as well as the vineyard's unique terroir.
I hope you enjoy the unique wines from Verdad.
¡Enjoy con mucho gusto!
Louisa Sawyer Lindquist
Welcome to Verdad Wines
The wines are made at the Clendenen Lindquist Winery in Santa Maria, home to Qupé Wine Cellars and Au Bon Climat Winery.
The first vintage for Verdad was 2000. Verdad makes a dry Grenache based Rosé, a Santa Ynez Valley Albariño and Tempranillo as well as a Demeter certified biodynamic Albariño and Tempranillo from the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard. The total production is about 2000 cases.
Verdad is devoted to making Spanish grape varietal wines that express true varietal character as well as the vineyard's terroir. The grapes are sourced from organic and biodynamic vineyards and are minimally processed in the cellar. The philosophy behind the winemaking is to grow the best fruit possible, pick at optimum balance and let the wines reflect what the vineyards have created.
About Verdad Wines
A Personal History by Louisa Sawyer Lindquist.

Verdad is devoted to making Spanish grape varietal wines that express true varietal character as well as the vineyard's terroir. The grapes are sourced from organic and biodynamic vineyards and are minimally processed in the cellar. The philosophy behind the winemaking is to grow the best fruit possible, pick at optimum balance and let the wines reflect what the vineyards have created.
There are two primary vineyards that Verdad sources from. The Ibarra-Young Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley, which is organically farmed and the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard in Edna Valley, which is Demeter certified biodynamic.
The wines are made at the Clendenen Lindquist Winery in Santa Maria, home to Qupé Wine Cellars and Au Bon Climat Winery.
The first vintage for Verdad was 2000. Verdad makes a dry Grenache based Rosé, a Santa Ynez Valley Albariño and Tempranillo as well as a Demeter certified biodynamic Albariño and Tempranillo from the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard. The total production is about 2000 cases.
Back in the Spring of 2002, when the economy was strong and real estate was hot, Bob and I took a meandering weekend drive through the Edna Valley. We had talked about looking for an acre or two of land on which to build a house on. While driving on Orcutt Road, where many lovely vineyards and wineries are located, we passed by a gorgeous piece of land with rolling hills dotted with California Oak trees and contented cows grazing with a 'For Sale' sign on it. We stopped the car and got out to gaze on the bucolic scene. We looked at each other and knew this was the place we wanted to plant a vineyard and build a house.
We called the agent the following week, made an appointment and walked through the eighty acres. We fell in love with the land. Although it was not our plan or within our budget we knew we had to make it happen. The land was actually in receivership as part of a difficult divorce settlement. We were told we could make an offer on the land, and in the county courthouse a few months down the road, if there were no higher offers received on the land, we would be able to purchase it. We made an offer, which was absolutely all we could afford and waited for the court date. In the meantime we found out that higher offers had been made on the property in the past, but the divorce was contentious, with the seller not cooperating, and as a result the buyers dropped out. Finally the court day came and no other interested buyers showed up. We borrowed money from our family and bank, sold our big, beautiful home in Solvang to make the down payment on the property.
Our vision was becoming reality.
We started planning our vineyard. So many decisions to be made, what grape varieties, rootstocks, how would the rows be sited? How will we pay for it? Did we know the price of steel fluctuates daily? Steel is what would be needed for the trellis system, and lots of it. Irrigation must be designed and put in. Not to mention, the most important question: How to farm the land? Organic? Biodyanmic? Sustainable? Big decisions, big money, big commitment.
After talking to many friends and colleagues in the wine business we were divided on whether to farm organically or biodynamically. I was leaning toward biodynamic farming as our good friends Steve and Susan Beckmen had started biodynamic farming at their Purisima Mountain Vineyard and were incredibly happy with the results. Bob was less convinced.
In the spring of 2005 Bob went to London on a sales trip and by coincidence there was a biodynamic wine conference being held while he was in Town. He attended the conference and ran into two friends and colleagues, Dominique Lafon and André Ostertag. They went out to dinner together and sung the praises and amazing results of biodynamic farming to Bob. If you have had the opportunity to try the wines these winemakers produce you would be sold too. They are, as most wine connoisseurs will agree, among the finest wines made in the world. I received a telephone message from Bob that evening which I still remember: "Babe, biodynamic is our future!" The rest is history.
The idea for Verdad Wine Cellars started when I first visited Napa Valley in 1987. I was working for a Long Island Vineyard and was exploring Napa Valley wineries. I was taken by the Spanish influences all over California - the architecture, the place names, the food, the climate and geography - and began to wonder, with all this Spanish influence, why were there were no wines to be found made from Spanish grape varieties.
A couple of years later I became enamored of Spanish wines while working at a prominent wine shop on Long Island which led to working with a New York based wine importer and distributor that carried the Classical Wines of Spain portfolio. I was able to taste and learn about these wines on a new level and became a huge fan.
Now I was hooked on Albariño wines from Rias Biaxes with their vibrant fresh flavors that married so well with the abundant local seafood of Long Island, and the bold and complex Tempranillo based wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. On subsequent wine trips to California I kept looking for producers of these grapes, but there were none.
Also during the late 1980's I fell in love with dry 'European-styled' rosé from France, Spain and Italy. Rosé was and still is the quintessential summer wine, refreshing and bright with a wide spectrum of flavors. It is an extraordinarily diverse wine that combines fresh lively white wine qualities with spicy red wine flavors.
In 1990 I moved to San Francisco to work with a wine importer and distributor. In 1994 I began dating (and later married) Bob Lindquist – visionary and wine-maker extraordinaire of Qupé Wine Cellars. Bob inspired and encouraged me to follow my dream of making wine from Spanish grape varieties. From this Verdad was born.
In 1996 Brian Babcock sold us 150 sticks of budwood from Albariño vines he had planted experimentally in his estate vineyard. We grafted the sticks to rootstock and planted them at Ibarra-Young Vineyard in Los Olivos. Eventually we propagated this to 2 acres. In 2005 we planted an additional 3 acres at our estate vineyard in Edna Valley.
In 1999 we planted one acre of Tempranillo from a Rioja clone at Ibarra-Young Vineyard and in 2000 planted one acre of a Ribera del Duero clone at Ibarra-Young Vineyard and another 2/3 acre of Rioja clone. In 2005 we planted two acres of Ribera del Duero Tempranillo clone at our estate vineyard in Edna Valley. In 2009 I grafted over 2/3 acre of Rioja clone to Graciano. The first harvest of this will be in 2010. It will be blended with the Ibarra-Young Vineyard Tempranillo.
The first wines made at Verdad Wine Cellars were the 2000 vintage Albariño from the Ibarra-Young Vineyard and Rosé made from Ibarra-Young Tempranillo and Alisos Vineyard Grenache. The first Tempranillo was made in 2001 from the Ibarra-Young Vineyard.
The Verdad wines are made at the Clendenen Lindquist Winery in Santa Maria. The first vintages of Verdad were made with Bob's winemaking skill and my vision of style. Over the years, with experience and working with the same vineyards from year to year I have taken over the winemaking. The expert winery staff helps make it all come together, especially Jim Adelman, general manager of the winery and over seeing winemaker, Enrique Hernandez and of course, my partner and husband, Bob Lindquist.
In 1999 we stated farming the Ibarra-Young Vineyard organically, (although it is not certified). In 2005 we planted our own Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard in Edna Valley. Previously this land was used mostly for cattle grazing. We started farming using biodynamic agricultural practices from the start. In 2009 the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard was Demeter Certified Biodynamic ® along with the winemaking.
Vineyards
The grapes for the Verdad wines are grown on our estate Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard in Edna Valley which is farmed using biodynamic agriculture practices and at the Ibarra-Young Vineyard which is organically farmed.
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Ibarra-Young Vineyard
The Ibarra-Young vineyard is a 14-acre vineyard located just south of Los Olivos in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley.
It is a category UC Davis Region II with cool overcast mornings turning warm during the day and cool at night, often with a 30 - 40 degree day/night temperature difference.
The vineyard was originally planted in 1971 by Charlotte Young and her vineyard manager Miguel Ibarra to 10 acres of cabernet sauvignon and was contracted to Firestone Vineyard. By 1979 that contract had expired and there was more demand for white grapes so Charlotte grafted over most of the vineyard to sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc.
Around this same time Charlotte got involved in a winery cooperative with a group of other small growers called Los Viñeros and a winemaking facility was built on the west side of Santa Maria. From 1980-1984 almost all of Charlotte's grapes went into the blends at Los Viñeros. By 1985 Los Viñeros was starting to falter and Charlotte was having trouble selling her grapes.
Charlotte was thinking about tearing her vines out . . . Bob Lindquist heard about this and offered to lease the vineyard and graft it over to Rhone varieties. Bob even made a chenin blanc in 1985 from Charlotte's grapes to show his good faith and help Charlotte with the transition. Between 1986 and 1989 the 10 acres were grafted over to 4 acres of marsanne, 3 acres of syrah, 1.75 acres of mourvedre and 1.25 acres of Viognier . . . all on those original cabernet roots!
Between 1996 and 2000, 4 more acres were planted to albariño and tempranillo for Louisa Sawyer Lindquist's Spanish grape varietal project Verdad. In 2009 another Spanish variety, graziano, was added to the vineyard.
Since 1999 the vineyard has been farmed organically and is still farmed by Miguel Ibarra. Miguel is now in his mid 70's and every year threatens to retire and move back to Mexico, but thankfully he keeps coming back. He knows each one of these vines and just has an incredible farming touch.
Sadly, Charlotte Young passed away in 2008, just shy of her 92nd birthday (there is a dedication to her on the back of Qupé's Los Olivos Cuvée label), but her children and grandchildren carry on. Her legacy lives in the vines and the wonderful wines that come from this special spot. -
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard
The Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard is located on Orcutt Road in the Edna Valley AVA in San Luis Obispo. About forty acres are under cultivation on an 80-acre ranch. The vines were planted in 2005 on rolling hillsides.
The vineyard is an upper region I on the UC Davis Heat Summation Scale which translates into a long, cool growing season. During the summer the marine layer rolls in during the evening and burns off in the late morning. Average daytime high temperatures in the summer are in the mid 70’s, lows are in the low 50’s. It is this cool climate and long growing season that produces grapes with naturally high acidity and a broad spectrum of flavors.
The soils at the Sawyer Lindquist vineyard are composed of alluvial soils made up of decomposed sedimentary rock with lots of mudstone and a bit of limestone. The pH is low. The vineyard is hilly with some steep hillsides. The vines are cordon trained and spur pruned. All the grapes are hand picked during harvest.
The vineyard has three large ‘beneficial plant gardens’ which are located in different areas of the vineyard. The gardens are filled with low maintenance native plants that have been proven to attract bees, butterflies, ladybugs and other helpful insects. There are six owl boxes located throughout the vineyard.
These boxes are where owls nest and live. The owls are natural predators to gophers and ground squirrels and their residence on the vineyard help us reduce the overall population of these pests. During the vines dormant months, we have a flock of about 150 – 250 sheep grazing through out the vineyard to help with the weeding and fertilizing of the ground between the vines.The planted grape varieties are: tempranillo, albariño, grenache, pinot noir, marsanne and syrah. The vines were planted on raw land and the vineyard has been farmed using biodynamic farming practices from the very beginning.
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard was Demeter certified biodynamic in 2009. Also in 2009 the wines from this vineyard were made according to the Demeter biodynamic standards and certified. 2008 was the first vintage from the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard.
Wines
2011 Rosé
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley
100% Grenache
Harvested in two lots:
Lot 1 – October 12, 2011
Lot 2 – October 19, 2011
11 Tons total
21.5 brix
8.5 Total Acidity
3.4 pH
13 % Alcohol
Lot 1 was de-stemmed and sat overnight to absorb color.
Lot 2 was whole cluster pressed.
The wine was fermented in a stainless steel tank and went through a long cool fermentation utilizing the grapes native, wild yeasts.
Malo-lactic fermentation was completed on February 15, 2012. No ml bacteria culture was added.
Bottled on March 19, 2012.
Aromas are of rose petals and ripe strawberries. Lively wild strawberry and watermelon flavors explode in the mouth. This wine is expressive and vibrant with a touch of herbs de Provence. It is the essence of summer in a glass.
720 cases and 22 kegs produced.
2010 Rosé
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley
This rosé is 100% Grenache grown at our Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard in Edna Valley. The grapes are grown for rosé and picked early for freshness and moderate alcohol. The wine was fermented in stainless steel using the grapes' native yeasts. The aromas are of wild strawberries and roses with flavors of berries and watermelon framed by spice and herbs de Provence. It has bright focused flavors and a crisp finish.
2009 Rosé
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley
This rosé is 100% Grenache grown at our Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard. The grapes are grown for rosé and are picked early to give the wine freshness and low alcohol. The wine was fermented with the grapes native yeasts. The aromas are of fresh strawberries with flavors of berries and watermelon framed with spice and herbs de Provence. It is crisp and focused with nice balance.2010 Albariño
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley
This wine is made with 100% Albariño grapes grown at our Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard in Edna Valley. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and neutral barrels using the grapes native yeasts. The wine is lush on the palate and exhibits a lovely minerality with lime blossom aromatics and flavors of peaches layered with meyer lemons. The wine has great length with hints of bitter almonds.Purchase this wine
2011 Albariño
Paragon Vyd., Edna Valley
100% AlbariñoHarvested October 12, 2011
5 Tons of fruit
22.6 brix
11.8 Total Acidity
3.17 pH
13.0 % Alcohol
Whole cluster pressed
Fermented in neutral barrels
Native yeast, natural fermentation
Completed malo-lactic fermentation by December 1st with no added ml bacteria.
Bottled/kegged on March 15, 2012
Pretty peach and lime blossom aromas. It has a pleasant round mouth-feel with white peach and citrus flavors framed with white stones and bitter almond. This is nicely balanced wine with a lively citrus finish.
100 cases + 100 kegs produced.
2010 Albariño
Santa Ynez Valley
Made from 100% Albariño grapes from the organic Ibarra-Young Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley. The grapes were fermented in neutral barrels using the grapes' native yeasts. The wine has white flower aromatics with peach and apricot flavors and a fresh citrus finish with hints of white stone minerals.Purchase this wine
2009 Albariño
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley
This wine is made from 100% Albariño grapes from our Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard. The wine was fermented using the grapes' native yeasts. The wine is lush on the palate and exhibits a lovely minerality with orange blossom aromatics and flavors of peaches layered with citrus. It has a bright finish with a hint of bitter almonds.2009 Albariño
Santa Ynez Valley
This wine is made from 80% Albariño from Ibarra-Young Vineyard (organically farmed) and 20% Verdello from Estelle Vineyard. The wine is an interesting blend of minerally, racy Albariño and ripe lush Verdello. The resulting wine has lime blossom aromas with white peach flavors and apricots with hints of salty caramel and apples.2008 Albariño
Santa Ynez Valley
This is made from 60% biodynamic grapes from Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard in Edna Valley and 40% organic grapes from Ibarra-Young Vineyard in Los Olivos. The wine is medium bodied and has lovely aromatics with hints of orange blossom, lemon peel and figs with tart apple flavors layered with bitter almonds, minerals and a bright citrus finish. 340 cases made2009 Tempranillo
Santa Ynez Valley
76% Tempranillo, organically farmed at Ibarra-Young Vineyard 12% Grenache, biodynamic from Purisima Mt. Vineyard 12% Syrah, organically farmed from Bien Nacido Vineyard This is a beautifully balanced wine with moderate alcohol and well-integrated flavors. It was aged in 35% new Hungarian oak barrels for two years prior to bottling. It has classic Tempranillo aromas of black cherries and spice with elevated berry aromatics from the Grenache and a rich spicy mid-palate. The robust earthy flavors are layered with cocoa, sour cherries and spice. 372 cases produced.2008 Tempranillo
Santa Ynez Valley
This wine is made from 60% Rioja clone and 40% Ribera del Duero clone of Tempranillo from the organic Ibarra-Young Vineyard blended with 18% Grenache from Purisima Mountain Vineyard and 6% Syrah from Bien Nacido Vineyard. The wine was aged for two years in 30% new Hungarian oak puncheons. This robust wine has ripe black cherry and plum flavors layered with cocoa, cinnamon and smoky spice. It is earthy and full bodied with a long cocoa dusted finish.Purchase this wine
2008 Tempranillo
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley
This silky wine is made from 90% Tempranillo and 10% Grenache from our biodynamic Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard in Edna Valley. It was aged for two years in 40% new French oak. Black cherry aromas lead into flavors of cherries, plums and earth framed by smoky spice notes. The wine has a velvety texture on the palate with a long, lingering finish.2008 Tempranillo
Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley
This wine is showing black cherry and violet aromas and is lush on the palate with tart cherry and plum flavors, layered with smoky spice, with hints of dark chocolate and great length of flavors. A well balanced wine that will continue to develop and open up over the next several years... This wine is made from biodynamic grapes and aged for 2 years in small French oak barrels, 40% new wood. 240 cases produced.Purchase this wine
2007 Tempranillo
Santa Ynez Valley
This is made from 60% Rioja clone and 40% Ribera del Duero clones of Tempranillo from the organic Ibarra-Young Vineyard blended with 20% Grenache and 4% Syrah. This robust wine has ripe cherry and plum flavors layered with cocoa, cinnamon and smokey spice. It has a nice depth of flavor with a long cocoa dusted finish.2006 Tempranillo
Santa Ynez Valley
This wine is 75% Tempranillo, 15% Syrah and 10% Grenache. The Tempranillo was farmed organically at Ibarra-Young Vineyard in Los Olivos. The Grenache was farmed biodynamically at Purisima Mountain Vineyard in Los Olivos and the Syrah is from the Bien Nacido Vineyard.Contact Verdad Wines
Our tasting room is in the town of Los Olivos in Santa Barbara County, California
Google Map
Tasting Room address
Press and Events
Press
KCET recently featured Verdad Wines in a piece entitled "California Wine: A Sip of Spain by Michael Newsome"
Events
June 8, 2012
The Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) is hosting their fifth annual Grand Wine Tasting of domestically-produced Tempranillos, Albariños, Garnachas, Verdelhos, and many more, from the wine regions of the western United States.
TAPAS Grand Wine Tasting, 2012Dear friends of TAPAS, This is a short note to let you know about a special discount for tickets to the TAPAS 2012 Grand Wine Tasting, Saturday, June 9 in the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason, San Francisco. Grapes native to the Iberian Peninsula produce some of the hottest-selling wines on the market right now, but not many people know that there are excellent and unique domestic versions being grown, too. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to sample wines from over forty participating wineries and learn about varieties like Tempranillo, Albariño, Garnacha, Graciano, Mourvedre, Touriga, Verdelho, Bastardo and more. This is a walk-around tasting where you will be able to chat with the growers and producers. Many TAPAS members are limited-production, family-owned wineries and will be pouring small lot wines that are not widely available. Light tapas will be served, and wines will also be available for purchase! This year the event will be held at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion on Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Consumer tickets at the door are $65, but in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby, and the Supermoon, we are offering tickets for $30, this weekend only. This offer is exclusively through Brown Paper Tickets and ends at midnight Sunday, May 6. To purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/247814 Thanks for your interest in TAPAS!