PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Araciel — meaning "Altar in the Sky" — is the newest project from Joseph Wagner, the winemaker behind Belle Glos, Quilt, and Böen, under his Copper Cane label. The name reflects the project's genuinely unusual dual identity: Araciel bridges two continents, crafting Albariño from hillside vineyards in California's Santa Maria Valley and Malbec from the eastern foothills of the Andes in Argentina's Valle de Uco — two regions that, despite being a world apart, share strikingly similar growing conditions: abundant sunshine, temperate weather, and alluvial soil, both benefiting from the kind of extended, cool-climate hang time that lets grapes develop real character while retaining bright acidity.
This Albariño is grown at the estate's H. Verlassenschaft Vineyard (also referenced as Haribach Vineyard), on the slopes of the eastern edge of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, where the Pacific's coastal influence, abundant sunshine, and gravelly loam soils create genuinely ideal conditions for the variety. What sets this bottling apart from most Albariño, Spanish or otherwise, is the winemaking: rather than the stainless-steel-only approach most producers use to preserve Albariño's characteristically lean, mineral-driven style, Araciel ages this wine in French oak, 40% of it new — a deliberate choice yielding what the winery calls "an elegant yet powerful, mouth-filling style." The 2023 growing season in Santa Maria Valley brought abundant rain followed by a cool spring, delaying bud break; as the season warmed, growth turned rapid and vigorous, with the vines' deep dormancy contributing real concentration to the finished fruit.
The Tasting Panel's review found the wine "brisk, salty lemon drop, with wet stone and top-line acidity," describing it as "streamlined, with an electric energy," finishing "with lime zest and a sprinkling of chervil, oregano, and yellow pepper." A CellarTracker community reviewer scored it 89 points, describing it as full-bodied with orchard fruit and white flower notes — genuinely distinct from the leaner, more traditional Spanish style most Albariño drinkers expect. This is a genuinely ambitious, oak-influenced take on a grape usually kept deliberately austere — real richness and depth layered onto Albariño's naturally bright acidity.
Araciel is produced by Joseph Wagner, the winemaker behind Belle Glos, Quilt, and Böen, under his Copper Cane label. The project draws fruit from hillside vineyards in two distinct regions: the San Rafael Mountains of California's Santa Maria Valley for Albariño, and the eastern foothills of the Andes in Argentina's Valle de Uco for Malbec.
This 2023 Albariño is grown at the estate's Haribach (H. Verlassenschaft) Vineyard, on the eastern slopes of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, benefiting from the coastal influence of the Pacific, abundant sunshine, and gravelly loam soils. Unlike most Albariño producers, Araciel ages the wine in French oak, 40% of it new, for an elegant, mouth-filling style. The 2023 growing season began with abundant rain and a cool spring, delaying bud break before conditions warmed into rapid, vigorous growth.
The Tasting Panel:
"Brisk, salty lemon drop, with wet stone and top-line acidity. Streamlined, with an electric energy. Finishes with lime zest and a sprinkling of chervil, oregano, and yellow pepper."
CellarTracker community — 89 Points:
Described as a full-bodied wine with orchard fruit and white flower notes, distinct from a traditional lean Spanish style.
Nose
Pale straw with a golden hue. Salty lemon drop and wet stone lead, joined by orchard fruit and white flower character.
Palate
Brisk and electric, with top-line acidity carrying real energy, developing lime zest, chervil, oregano, and yellow pepper — full-bodied and mouth-filling, reflecting the wine's French oak maturation.
Finish
Streamlined and bright, closing with lingering lime and herbal spice — genuinely richer and more textured than a typical Spanish-style Albariño.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Barbara County, California |
| Variety | 100% Albariño |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Producer | Araciel (Copper Cane LLC) — Joseph Wagner |
| Vineyard | Haribach (H. Verlassenschaft) Vineyard |
| Soils | Gravelly loam |
| Aging | French oak, 40% new |
| Critics | The Tasting Panel reviewed · CellarTracker community 89 Points · Vivino 4.0/5 |
| Style / Identity | A rich, French oak-aged, mouth-filling California Albariño — genuinely distinct from lean Spanish styles |
| Aromas & Flavors | Salty lemon drop, wet stone, lime zest, chervil, oregano |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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