A collaboration between Shaun Cassidy and award winning winemaker Steve Clifton.
For the last decade, our family has been fortunate to call the Santa Barbara wine country home. Because so many of our friends are farmers and winemakers, we’ve learned to appreciate the bounty of extraordinary foods and wines this area has to offer. Partnering with No Kid Hungry, and working with our good pal Steve Clifton, we are proud to bring these exceptional wines to you.
- Shaun Cassidy
2019 Pinot Grigio Santa Barbara County
Fresh basil, quince, and lychee mingle immediately on the nose. There’s a softness of yellow peach that comes in next. This is a wonderfully complex pinot grigio, unlike thinner versions, with depth and viscosity. A Meyer lemon essence reminds one of homemade lemon bars with a buttery crust.
The finish is clean and refreshing with a citrusy finish that begs for fresh seasonal delights.
2019 Pinot Noir Rosé
Bright cherry, even Marischino, dominates the nose at first pass. There is a clean, bright feeling to the fruit aromas. Underneath the cherry aromas are subtle citrus notes of mandarin and tangerine.
On the pallet the harmony continues with distinct cherry flavors of bing and maraschino and pleasantly fresh citrus support. This wine is very pretty, very refreshing and overall goes down quite quickly!
2018 Syrah Ballard Canyon
Deep, black plum is the major character here, with softer aromas of ripe apricot and black cherry. Mild notes of herbs de Provence wrap the fruit softly. Mild hints of French Oak add a sophistication to the wine, but in no way overpower. A beautiful plum skin vitality remains after the last sip for some time, bringing you back to the glass for more.
2018 Pinot Noir SRH
Bright fruit of wild strawberry and raspberry dominate the nose, while an earthier undercurrent provides a base for the fruit. There is a slightly mentholated lift to the aromas. A very mild essence of porcini mushrooms lingers just below the surface. Mild cardamum spice lilts above.
On the palate the fruit continues, especially the wild strawberry. Pleasant spice and toast mingle from the oak. The finish is long and lingering with hints of vanilla wrapped around pleasant acidity that beckons for food.
“With so many wonderful wines being made around the world, the ones that truly stand out to me are the ones that have a great story behind them. The personal connection to a wine with an inspiring story can be truly profound.
With these bottlings, we begin with the opportunity to produce them in Santa Barbara County. With perfect growing conditions and idyllic surroundings, it’s hard to go wrong. But I think the strongest foundation to a great story is always based in friendship and admiration. It is truly an honor and privilege to be a part of My First Crush. I hope you all enjoy these wines as much as we enjoy bringing them to you.”
- Steve Clifton
My First Crush wines are proud to partner with No Kid Hungry, a national campaign ending childhood hunger in America. In the wake of the coronavirus, millions of children and their families in the U.S. are facing poverty and hunger. Before the pandemic, 1 in 7 kids were struggling with hunger. Today, it could be 1 in 4. The good news is No Kid Hungry has a plan to make sure those children are fed, both during this crisis and in the recovery to follow.
Through a combination of emergency grants, strategic assistance, advocacy and awareness, No Kid Hungry is helping kids, families and communities get the resources they need, but there’s still more work to do, and we all can play a part in ending child hunger. Go to NoKidHungry.org to learn more about how you can help!
$2.00 from each bottle sold will be donated to No Kid Hungry
