Meet El Lugar and Clairborne & Churchill Winemaker Coby Parker Garcia

Claiborne-Churchill winesInside Wine Santa Barbara—a fun and educational Meetup group which is open to the public—features winemaker Coby Parker Garcia at a special gathering on July 23, at 5:30 p.m., in the charming courtyard of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, 2559 Puesta Del Sol.

Under the El Lugar label, Garcia creates small lot, vineyard designate Pinot Noir, defined by their place of origin. The site-specific Pinot is sourced from Hawk’s Roost Ranch in the Russian River Valley, Rincon Vineyard, which is part of the historic Talley Vineyards of San Luis Obispo County, Greengate Vineyard of Edna Valley and Santa Maria’s famed Bien Nacido Vineyards which has produced many award-winning and highly-rated wines. One such example is El Lugar’s  2013 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir which received 93 Points and “Editor’s Choice” from Wine Enthusiast with the praise: “Longtime Claiborne & Churchill winemaker Coby Parker-Garcia releases his own project with exemplary results.”

Garcia is also the head winemaker at Claiborne & Churchill, taking the helm after his long-time mentor Clay Thompson retired. 

Guests will have the opportunity to hear from Garcia on his winemaking techniques and taste two of his premium El Lugar Pinot Noirs and three of his elegant Claiborne & Churchill wines. Light appetizers will also be served.

The cost of the event is $24. To register: http://www.meetup.com/inside-Wine-Santa-Barbara/.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on July 14, 2016.

Thacher Winery Winemaker Tasting

Thacher Winery (Mike Larson photo)

Thacher Winery (Mike Larson photo)

Enjoy the hand-crafted, dry-farmed, Rhone blends and Zinfandels from award-winning Thacher Winery from the westside of Paso Robles with Sherman and Michelle Thacher on January 16 at 6 p.m. at Blush, 630 State St.

“Not only are their wines terrific, but they are a wonderful, engaging couple that radiate the hospitality that makes their winery a must-visit in Paso,” say Inside Wine Santa Barbara organizers who have created this event.
“We will have the back patio of Blush to ourselves–tented, heated, with the outdoor fireplace lit. Blush will be providing tasty appetizers to pair with the Thacher wine selections.” Wine selections include:

·       2011 CONTROLLED CHAOS, Paso Robles (usual retail $42) 47% Mourvedre, 33% Zinfandel, 20% Grenache—each part is equally represented without anyone of them outdoing the other. This wine is delicious and approachable, a true crowd pleaser.

·       2010 GSM,  Central Coast (usual retail $42)  A pure, supple blend of 38% Grenache, 31% Syrah and 31% Mourvedre, the 2010 GSM dishes out loads of pleasure with a seamless, upfront and fruit-loaded personality. Exhibiting ripe black raspberry, toast, spice cabinet and plenty of licorice aromas and flavors, this plush, textured, medium to full-bodied, beauty should be enjoyed over the coming 4-5 years. WINNER! 2013 LA International Wine Competition “Best of Class”

·       2011 ZINFANDEL, Paso Robles (usual retail $36) Five different Westside Paso Robles’ vineyards make up this blend, one of them being our own Kentucky Ranch Vineyard. This wine is ruby in color with notes of cherry, coffee, cinnamon, and molasses on the nose. The front of the palette has hints of vanilla that give way to a flavor of ripe strawberries. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with silky tannins, strong persistence and a bright jolt of cracked pepper.

·       2011 ViN ROUGE, Paso Robles (usual retail $38) A favorite blend of 74% Syrah and 26% Grenache — very balanced and approachable. This is the perfect cocktail hour wine. Not over-powering or loaded with astringency. Medium bodied, fruity and a crowd pleaser. No fork needed.

For more information, please click here.
—Leslie Dinaberg
Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on January 1, 2014.