Tag Archives: The Valley Project

Cocktail Corner: SB Premiere of Somm Into the Bottle

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Somm Into the Bottle

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg

Wine and movies pair together exceptionally well—especially at the beautiful private screening room at the Bacara Resort & Spa, featuring blu-ray technology and a surround-sound audio system—so it’s fitting that this is the spot for the Santa Barbara movie premiere of SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE, the sequel to the 2013 cult hit SOMM.

Writer/Director Jason Wise’s SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE takes us deep into the seldom seen world that surrounds the wine we drink. How many people understand how wine is produced? How it is grown? What goes on in the cellar? From those questions to how many hands touch a bottle, to why wine costs what it costs, to how certain wines end up on a wine list, this movie offers a never before seen, insider’s look into the world of wine.

After the premiere, you can enjoy tastings by Bacara’s famed Executive Chef Vincent Lesage, as well as vintages from 11 esteemed Santa Barbara County wineries pouring an outstanding selection of wines. It all takes place on Saturday, January 16 at the Bacara, 8301 Hollister Ave.

“Bacara’s appreciation for fine wine is evident in our 12,000-bottle Cellar and onsite Foley Wine Tasting Room,” says Shashi Poudyal, general manager of Bacara Resort & Spa. “We share the filmmaker’s fascination with this intriguing world and are honored to screen a film about one of our favorite passions.”

The schedule is as follows:

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. SOMM Screening & Audience Q&A with writer/director Jason Wise and local master sommelier Brian McClintic, who appears in the film.

4:30 to 6 p.m. Wine & Chef’s Tasting Reception

Featured Wineries at the Reception:

PENCE

Scar of the Sea

Palmina

Silver Wines

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

Presqu’ile

Rancho Sisquoc

Sunstone Winery

Baehner Fournier

Imagine Wine, LLC

The Valley Project

The cost is $80 per person and tickets must be purchased online at BacaraResort.com. Hope to see some of you there. Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

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 Magazine on January 1, 2016.

Cocktail Corner: SB Passport … to Libations!

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Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

As far as I’m concerned, there’s almost nothing better than the buzzy fun of enjoying summertime cocktails with friends—but one thing that does beat that is getting a great DEAL on summertime cocktails with friends.

There’s a new player in town—The Santa Barbara Passport—that offers great deals on drinks this summer at 28 establishments for just 20 bucks. This cleverly illustrated, pocket-sized booklet offers loads of drink deals—you receive a stamp in your booklet upon redemption—and the specials will run all summer through Labor Day (September 7), providing ample time to collect stamps and explore.

It even includes a section on Beer 101 and Wine Labels for Dummies, as well as cocktail fundamentals for making—and ordering—classic libations like Negronis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds.

Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

“The Passport is the friend that helps you decide where to go for happy hour, on a date or a Sunday afternoon,” says Casey Berry, co-founder of the Passport Program, who describes it as “a curated guide to the beverage culture of Santa Barbara.”

Indeed, participating venues include some of my favorites:

Alcazar: Heat of passion for 50% off
American Ale: Coffee house barrel aged bourbon vanilla iced latte for 50% off
Armada Wine & Beer Merchant: Get second glass beer or wine for 40% off
The Black Sheep: A beer for 40% off
Blind Tiger: Delicious Tiger Beer for 50% off
Blush Restaurant + Lounge: Blush Sangria for 50% off
The Brewhouse: House beers for $3
Cebada Vineyard & Winery: Second wine flight for 50% off
Cielo: Cielo signature drink for $1 off
Corks n’ Crowns: Gold or craft brew flight for 50% off
Elsie’s: Firestone PVO, stone IPA, or hefeweizen for 50% off
Figueroa Mountain Brewery: A pint for $3
Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

Fox Wine Co.: Second wine tasting for 50% off
Giessinger Winery: Signature wines tasting for 10% off
Killer B’s BBQ and Bar: (Temporarily Closed for Renovations)Jalapeno and citrus martini for 50% off
The Neighborhood: Pineapple mai tai 50% off
Old Town Tavern: Pint of 805 for 50% off
Patxi’s Pizza: Second pint for 50% off
Pure Order Brewing Company: Pint for 50% off
Sama Sama Kitchen: Sama Sama for 40% off
Santa Barbara Wine Collective: Second wine tasting flight for 50% off
Seven Bar & Kitchen: American mule for $7
Soho: Lemon and Lavender infused Moscow mule for 50% off
Telegraph Brewing Company: 21 oz. mug for pint price
Uptown: Any beer on tap for 50% off
The Valley Project: $5  glasses of wine on tap
Whiskey Richards: Santa barbara old fashioned for 50% off
Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

“Santa Barbara offers not just a great nightlife, but the drinks culture is so diverse that you won’t be disappointed when sipping a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Funk Zone or a cold White Rascal beer at American Ale,” says Jane Pimcomrie, city manager for the Santa Barbara branch of the Passport Program. “The Santa Barbara Passport features enough wineries for wine-lovers, breweries for after work socializing, and unique bars for cocktail and spirits junkies. Plus it will make the heat of summer that much more enjoyable.”

Can’t argue with that logic. For more information or to purchase a passport, go here.

Cheers! Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

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 Magazine on June 5, 2015.

iSurf Block Party Launches Watergirl Initiative

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Courtesy iSurf

Courtesy iSurf

Santa Barbara’s women’s surf program, iSurf School, has launched a new Watergirl Fund to help introduce girls to the joys of surfing. The fund is a scholarship program that will provide needs-based scholarships for surf instruction and will introduce the wonders of surfing to girls, ages 5-15, who would don’t have access to the sport.  The fund will also provide 100% scholarship and sponsorship funded surf programing to Girls, Inc. throughout the year, according to a statement from Alelia Parenteau, the owner of iSurf School.

The Fund will officially launch on Aug. 17 at the  iSurf Block Party, produced by WA Event Management & Consulting and hosted by The Valley Project (AVA Santa Barbara) and Pali Wine Co. The festivities include a silent auction, raffle, music, pig roast, ice cream stand and beer and wine.

Parenteau says “The goal is to raise $15,000 to provide needs-based scholarships up to 30 girls to attend a quarter of after school program. The girls selected would not have been able to attend without the invaluable support of the community.”

“Everyone has their own unique way of surfing,” says Gabi Turnbull, age 9 and an alum of the iSurf After School Program, “some surf schools teach the “one” way to surf but at iSurf you’re encouraged to develop your own style and explore your interests. Plus, I feel like a part of something bigger – a connection with the environment and the global surf community. My life IS surfing now, that’s how much I love it.”

iSurf has already partnered with prominent businesses in the Santa Barbara community to make this event a success.  Donors include Lole Atelier, SeaVees, Horny Toad, The Valley Project, Pali Wine Co, the Canary Hotel, and many more (for a complete list please see the Watergirl Fund webpage).

“We are completely humbled by the support of the community to make this event a major success,” says Parenteau, “it’s amazing to see how many people think this cause is important and see the value of this program and of surfing in general to the young girls in our community.”

The event will be held on Sunday, August 17 from 5–9 p.m. at the Valley Project and Pali Wine Co, 116 E. Yanonali St. in the Funk Zone. For more information click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on August 10, 2014.