The Spiral of Complexity: Samra Morris and the Caracol Block at Alma Rosa
A dynamic winemaker brings precision, passion, and patience to one of the Sta. Rita Hills' most unique vineyard sites.
Samra Morris continues to return to the best and worst relationships she’s ever had.
It’s not with a person, but with a pair of challenging sites the Alma Rosa winemaker tangles with every growing season at the 628-acre Sta. Rita Hills estate.
Perched atop a knoll in the Sta. Rita Hills, the Caracol block is unlike anything else in the AVA. Planted in a 360-degree spiral reminiscent of a snail’s shell, this 2.5-acre plot is the brainchild of experimentation—home to a randomized array of Pinot Noir clones and rootstocks.
It’s broken her heart during the growing season. Caracol is a technical challenge that requires extra attention during the season and individualized blocks picked during harvest. But it’s also a creative playground that charms her with the fruit it has produced.
“The idea was to mix it all up—not knowing which clone was planted where,” Morris said. “It’s like field blending before the harvest even begins.”
Each row of Caracol has a different orientation to the sun. One pocket catches warmth, another gets hit harder by the wind. The differences aren’t subtle. Clone 943 has small, tight clusters and higher acidity. Clone 808 runs bigger and more plush. Morris breaks the block into four harvest sections, pulling dozens of samples throughout the season to understand each mini-microclimate within the vineyard.
“It tests my patience,” she said during a phone interview. “Some blocks I just pick. But Caracol—and another problem child, El Jabali—demand all my attention. They give me a hard time, but I love them for it.”
The Alma Rosa Caracol Pinot Noir 2021 ($90) is a reflection of that love. Aged 11 months in 40% new French oak, the wine is a textural experience: bright acidity, chalky tannins, and a finish that lingers like a memory. Floral aromas rise from the glass along with sage and mountain brush. There were black cherry, pomegrantae, mint and loamy earth flavors. Morris was meticulous about oak, using it “not to overshadow but to lift the wine.”
Now in her seventh harvest in the Sta. Rita Hills, Morris thrives on the region’s unpredictability.
“Every vintage is a new puzzle,” she said. “And I’ve got too much energy to sit still anyway.”
The Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022 ($50) has an incredibly perfumed nose with tart black cherry, dried roses and black olive brine. Flavors of black cherry, tea leaves, scrubby herbs, blood orange and sea salt emerge on the finish.
At only $38, the Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2022 is one of the best values in white wines out there. Fresh citrus notes, mossy rocks and the aura of a walk on Jalama Beach linger.
On May 17, Alma Rosa hosts its sixth annual Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction fundraising walk. The winery has raised nearly $1 million for One Mind and the Mental Wellness Center of Santa Barbara.
It’s a perfect event for Morris, who feels like sitting down at the computer and doing work for an extended period is akin to punishment. She’s got to get up, move, clean the cellar, check a ferment or walk through the vineyard.
As the vines stretch toward their next vintage, so does Morris—rooted in challenge, blooming with creativity, and always walking toward something beautiful.
