September 2025 Newsletter

Harvest is approaching here at Rideau…

…and as excited as we are about the wines to come, we’re just as thrilled about those we’ve chosen for your club shipment this quarter. We hope you’re already enjoying them! This season’s selection was crafted with care to reflect the richness and warmth of early fall—whether you’ve opened a bottle with friends or are saving them for the holidays ahead, we trust they’ll bring depth and delight to your table.

RECENTLY AT RIDEAU

New Wine Release – 2022 Blanc de Blancs

We’re so excited to introduce a brand-new milestone for Rideau: our very first sparkling wine release. The 2022 Blanc de Blancs marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our program. Made primarily from Chardonnay and crafted in the traditional méthode, this elegant sparkler showcases fine bubbles, vibrant acidity, and layered notes of green apple, lemon peel, and fresh-baked brioche. It’s a refined and celebratory wine—perfect with oysters, creamy cheeses, or simply raising a glass to something special. You can try the wine in our tasting room, and also purchase it on our website!

Vineyard Update – Veraison and the coming of Harvest!

Over the past month, we’ve entered one of the most exciting and visually striking times in the vineyard—veraison, when the grapes begin to soften and change color, signaling the final stretch before harvest. The canopy is still lush and vibrant, but you can feel the shift in the air as the vines channel their energy into ripening the fruit. If the weather holds steady, we anticipate the first picks to begin in the next two to three weeks—an exciting start to what we hope will be a concentrated, flavorful, and expressive vintage.

National Relaxation Day – Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who joined us on August 16th to celebrate National Relaxation Day at Rideau! Guests lounged under the oaks, snapped playful photos in our brand-new 8-foot pink Adirondack chair, and enjoyed a lovely performance from Shennie Smith and her guitarist Brahms. The afternoon was filled with laughter, games of corn hole, and plenty of delicious bites including smash burgers, lobster rolls, pizzas, and charcuterie plates. Of course, the stars of the day were the wines—we poured bottle after bottle of our new Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine and fresh Estate Viognier for a packed crowd. It was the perfect way to toast summer in true Rideau style!

CELLAR CLUB CORNER

September Wine Club Shipment Wines

This month’s club selections feature a stellar array of whites and reds—each chosen to complement the season and highlight the beauty of Santa Barbara County terroir. These releases include our brand new 2022 Reserve Estate Syrah, an absolutely gorgeous expression of our estate fruit, as always, and rated 94 points by Jeb Dunnuck. Click below to explore tasting notes and technical details for each wine.

REDS

• 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – Sourced from the estimable Happy Canyon Vineyard, this balanced, medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is a lovely expression of the warmest AVA in Santa Barbara County.
• 2022 Estate Mourvèdre – Our iconic 100% varietal Mourvèdre shows all the classic qualities of this bottling, with silky smooth, chocolatey tannins, and a supple blend of both dark fruit and bright spice elements.
• 2022 Stolpman Syrah – The Ballard Canyon AVA is the source of one of our most robust and full-bodied Syrah expressions, from some of the oldest vines in the region.
• 2022 Thompson Syrah – The Alisos Canyon AVA, a windy east-west corridor towards Los Alamos, is the home of Thompson Vineyard. We’ve always loved the intensely concentrated raspberry quality of the fruit from this low-yielding vineyard.
• 2021 La Encantada Pinot Noir – We have sourced fruit from the incredible La Encantada Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills for nearly fifteen years now, and each vintage impresses us with its elegance, complexity, and drinkability.

Red for Black Label Clubs

• 2022 Reserve Estate Syrah – The pinnacle of our estate Syrah bottlings is this luscious, silky Reserve Syrah, which balances both deep, dark, rich fruit and layer after layer of spice and earth with truly mouth-watering results.
• 2021 Siempre Malbec – Legendary in our program, this Black Label bottling sourced from Happy Canyon Vineyard is a yearly favorite.

WHITES

• 2024 Enchevêtré Blanc – This textural, round Rhône white blend showcases a gentle beeswax and honey character brightened by elegant tropical tones.
• 2023 Stainless Steel Estate Viognier – Our annual stainless steel bottling of Viognier has been a favorite for nearly 30 years.
• 2024 Estate Roussanne – Grown on our ancient riverbed lower vineyard, this Roussanne exhibits surprising, razor-sharp clarity and definition not often seen in the varietal, offering a unique expression of our estate terroir.
• 2022 Chardonnay – Sourced from the acclaimed Zotovich Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, this Chardonnay features bright notes of citrus blossom and white peach, with hints of pear and a touch of honeydew melon. The subtle oak influence adds a layer of complexity to the vibrant palate.
• 2024 Riesling – Our annual sweet Riesling is a gorgeous, elegant expression of the varietal with lovely sweet tones, making it a delightful choice for those who appreciate a touch of sweetness in their wine.

White for Black Label Clubs

• 2022 Reserve Estate Viognier – This Viognier underwent skin contact, neutral barrel fermentation and aging, along with complete malolactic fermentation, bringing richness to the palate while retaining the grape’s floral character.

We hope you’re enjoying our new platform!

Our new platform launched earlier this summer to make customizing your club shipments easier than ever, and we’re so happy that many of you used it for the June and September releases! As always, a couple of weeks before each shipment you’ll receive an email with the wines selected for your package and a link to your profile where you can adjust your allocation however you like. This feature has long been requested by our members, and we’re so glad it’s now a seamless part of your club experience.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP

We’re always looking for ways to help you make the most of your membership.
Here are a few quick tips to ensure you’re getting all the perks and benefits available to you:

• Reserve a Tasting: Enjoy up to six complimentary wine tastings every time you visit, depending on your club level. It’s one of the easiest—and tastiest—ways to make the most of your membership.
• Set Up Your Online Profile: Our new platform makes it simple to manage your account in one place. You can update your preferences, track past orders, and customize upcoming shipments once they’re released.
• Shop New Wines: Can’t make it to the vineyard? No problem. Your club discounts apply online, too—shop our latest releases from the comfort of home.
• Refer a Friend: Share the Rideau experience! If someone you refer joins the club and remains a member for at least a year, you’ll receive one of your club shipments for free.
• Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes and more.

As always, thank you from all of us at Rideau Vineyard for your continuing support. For 30 years now, we’ve done literally everything on-site, from planting the vines to packing up the wines that go into your shipment. We truly wouldn’t be here without you and we’re grateful for your ongoing trust.  If you have any questions about your membership, please don’t hesitate to contact us.