Hayman & Hill's Interchange

Filed in archive California Wines on July 24, 2007

Rarely do I get very excited about white wines, but when I tasted Interchange, the new white blend from Hayman & Hill, my eyes lit up. It's a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Malvasia bianca, Semillon and Gewürztraminer grapes. It's rather tropical, crisp, bright, and quite refreshing.

The name itself is interesting. From Reuters:

Interchange represents the natural flow between nature's elements and the art of winemaking. The 2006 Interchange features a blend of aromatic white varietals from Santa Barbara County's diverse landscape, and is the latest in Hayman & Hill's venture to create single-appellation wines produced from California's top winegrowing regions.

"Interchange symbolizes many things," said Rebecca Stead, Marketing Manager for Cellar Door wines. "It is the winemaker's careful hand over the winemaking journey; the cooling flow of mild coastal breezes through hillside vineyards; the subtle hint of pineapple aromas in the glass from distinct parcels of land. Interchange discovers what's new on the horizon, which in this case, is the magnificent Santa Barbara County."

But I assure you that the wine is not just about a creative name. I'm a big fan of all the Hayman & Hill wines, and this white blend lived up to my expectations from this vineyard. The bottle retails for around $13.99.