Herman Melville was one of the greatest novelists of the nineteenth century. His most popular book, Moby Dick, illustrates the adventures of a sailor called Ishmael and his experiences aboard the ship Pequod. Bent on revenge, the captain of the ship, Ahab, relentlessly pursues a large whale who destroyed his last boat and bit off his leg. While I have never read Moby Dick, I can understand Ahab being somewhat angry at the whale. I also appreciate his tenacity at the continual hunt for this grand creature, Moby. It reminds me of my never-ending exploration for good wine (without the revenge or blood-loss). On my recent travels, my friends and I stopped at Melville Winery in Lompoc to sample their vineyard creations. The main tasting room is in the rotunda-esque portion of the building (above), with beautiful grounds perfect for picnics and relaxation.
This winery is rich with color! On the day we visited, elegant wisteria was in full bloom, adding a beautiful wood element to the front of the building. This flowery plant also adds a little fire energy with its calming violet color. The mustard hue of the stuccoed walls and the reddish tile add a lively earth element to the environment. Most shades of yellow are symbolic of earth or mountains, and tend to put one immediately at-ease. This, I found, continued as we journeyed inside.
An expansive tasting bar lined the back wall of the room that I now call “the tasting rotunda.” I fell in love with the beautiful marble that 
covered the bar. Marble, real or faux, is a stylish and tactile way of adding an earth element to any environment. This specific marble takes it one step further. Notice how the patterns on the stone almost looks like a map of some sort; maps and globes are another way of how earth can be introduced symbolically into ones surroundings.
Another auspicious aspect of the environment are the potted trees inside. An example of this is pictured below. Living trees and plants indoors can add a beneficial wood element to the area, as well as improving air quality. Faux plants are also good, but they will not aid in improving the indoor air as real plants. Notice also at the top of the picture there are beams on the ceiling. Beams, from a feng shui perspective, can greatly affect the health and emotional relationships of an area in a negative fashion. They can symbolically apply pressure to those in the room, and can cause quarrels or discord among people as well. Being that this is a business, it’s not as bad as if it were a residence, but I’m not fond of it. This was the only negative I noticed in the surroundings. I love how all the windows let in natural sunlight, bringing more nature in from the outside.
And now on to the delicious wines: Here’s what I tasted:
- 2009 Estate Chardonnay – Now, while I am a red lover by heart, there is nothing like a white wine on a warm California day. Referred to as their core chardonnay, this was my favorite of all the wines we tried. Pineapple, lemon, and sage are very evident in the aroma. Truly excellent and crowd pleasing.
- 2010 Estate Viognier – A crisp white wine with hints of pear and ginger. Not as sweet as other viogniers, but I quite enjoyed it. Would be great with Chinese food.
- 2010 Estate Syrah – A sultry red with suggestions of plum and elderberry. Very tasty.
- 2010 Estate Pinot Noir – A deep, rich pinot full of spices. One can taste black pepper, cumin, and ginger among others. I loved the ruby color of this wine. Sophisticated and complex.
The grounds of Melville are well-manicured and pleasing to the eye. My friends and I took advantage of this and brought a picnic lunch to savor the gorgeous day. We also purchased a bottle of the 2009 Chardonnay to accompany the meal. Definitely one of the best picnics I’ve had in a long time. I will definitely be visiting Melville again when I’m in the Lompoc area.
Justina Cross, Shaun-Mathieu Smith, Wendy Cross and Andres Acevedo. Photo courtesy of J. Cross.
Melville Vineyards and Winery
5185 East Hwy 246, Lompoc, CA 93436
805 735-7030
Hours: Tasting room open daily 11:00 to 4:00.
The Feng Shui Foodie 