Cocktail Corner: Thirsty Birds Flock to the Canary for Wine Tasting

View from the Rooftop Fireplace at the Canary (courtesy photo)

View from the Rooftop Fireplace at the Canary (courtesy photo)

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic!  By Leslie Dinaberg

One of the most exquisite—and exclusive—360-degree views of Santa Barbara is from the rooftop at the Canary, and it’s also a great place to taste local wines this summer.

Quite frankly, the scenery alone is enough to make me leap at any invitation to visit the roof, add in some terrific wines and nibbles and there’s no reason not to start your work week with a smile. You can sip and swirl at the Rooftop Perch at the Canary Hotel every Monday night from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. through mid-October.

Beckmen Vineyards (courtesy photo)

Beckmen Vineyards (courtesy photo)

Up this Monday (June 10) is Dragonette Cellars, whose delicious 2012 Rosé, Happy Canyon will most definitely put a bloom in your cheeks; followed by our friends from Beckmen Vineyards (June 17), whose innovative biodynamic practices we wrote about in SEASONS back in spring 2012 (From Biodynamic Vineyard to Brilliance in a Glass).

In addition to wine tasting, guests can also sample yummy bites from new executive chef James Siao of Finch & Fork restaurant downstairs. Tickets for the tastings can be purchased in advance or the evening of at Finch & Fork, and frequent tasters can bring back their reusable glass for a discount.

The rest of the winery lineup includes:

June 24: Semler

July 1: Fess Parker- Epiphany

July 8: Sanford

July 15: Carr

July 22: Kessler-Haak & Flying Goat

July 29: Jaffurs and Presqu’ile

August 5: Stolpman

August 12: Summerland Wine

August 19: Zaca Mesa & Palmina

August 26: Verdad

September 9: Demetria

September 16: Deep Sea-Conway

September 23: Margerum

September 30: Melville

October 7: Andrew Murray

And October 14 is the Grand Finale, featuring some of the favorite wines from throughout the season.

Sounds like Monday’s going to be Fun-day after all. The address is 31 W. Carrillo St., and FYI, now you can finally enter the building at the corner of Carrillo and Chapala Streets. For more information, call 805/879-9100 or click here.

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Leslie Dinaberg

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on June 7, 2013.

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