A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg
Santa Barbara Wine Festival—the first festival of its kind on the Central Coast—returns for the 29th year, hosted by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta Del Sol Rd.) on Saturday, June 25 from 2-5 p.m.
The beautiful grounds of Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History are a wonderful spot to appreciate being out in nature, and what better way to enjoy a summer weekend than sipping wine underneath the oaks along Mission Creek? Guests will sip, swirl, and savor a variety of wine from 75 wineries complemented by tasty hors d’oeuvres and desserts from famed local restaurants, farm-to-table caterers, and other top shelf food purveyors.
They’ll also be celebrating the museum’s 100th birthday with, what else … bubbles! As a commemorative presentation this year, Santa Barbara Wine Festival features Sparkling Way; a special area dedicated to sparkling wines and the perfect opportunity to raise a glass to the occasion. Also, new to the event this year is the VIP Redwood Lounge, where VIP ticket holders can enter the festival one hour early and enjoy a private tasting before everyone else arrives.
Winemakers Paul Lato and Morgan Clendenen will be in the VIP Lounge from 1-2 p.m. to pour their world class wines, along with savory bites from Chef Pete Clements. The lounge will also offer access to intimate seating, delectable treats, late , and complimentary chair massages throughout the festival.
The Cork Pull raffle is always one of my favorite things at this festival. For $30 to pull a cork, participants are guaranteed to win a prize worth at least $30, many of which are terrific wines and other prizes valued at $50 and above. Plus, all proceeds benefit the museum’s exhibits and education programs.
Participating wineries include: Alexander & Wayne, Alma Rosa, Andrew Murray Vineyards, Arthur Earl, Au Bon Climat, Babcock Winery, Beckmen Vineyards, Bedford Winery, Blair Fox Cellars, Brander Vineyard, Brewer-Clifton, Buttonwood, Byron, Cambria, Cargasacchi/Pt Conception, Carr Vineyards and Winery, Casa Dumetz, Cebada, Cinque Stelle, CORE, Consilience, Crawford Family Wines, Daniel Gehrs Wines, Dierberg/Star Lane, De Paola Vineyard, Epiphany Cellars, Falcone Vineyards, Feliz Noche, Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, Fiddlehead Cellars, Flying Goat Cellars, Foxen, Gainey Vineyard, Grassini Family Vineyards, Gypsy Canyon, Jaffurs Wine Cellars and Jamie Slone Wines.
Also pouring are:Kalyra, Ken Brown Wines, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Kita Wines, Koehler Winery, Kunin, LaFond, Larner Wines and General Store, Longoria, Loring Wine Company, Lumen, Margerum Wine Company, Melville, Mosby Winery & Vineyard, Municipal Winemakers, Oreana, Palmina, Potek, Qupé, Rancho Sisquoc Winery, Refugio Ranch, Santa Barbara Winery, Silver Wines, Sunstone Winery, Tablas Creek, Tatomer, Tercero Wines, Toucan Wines, Transcendence Wines, Whitcraft Winery, William James and Zaca Mesa.
In addition, participating food vendors are: Barbareno, Benchmark eatery, Brophy Bros., Ca Dario, Country Catering, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Duo, Farmer Boy, Finch & Fork, FreezerMonkey, Il Fustino, Industrial Eats, Jessica Foster Confections, Michael’s Catering, Mr. E’s Freeze, Mulberry Love, Nectar Eatery and Lounge, Pacific Pickle Works, The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch, Via Maestra, Village Modern Foods and Patxi’s Pizza.
For more information and to purchase tickets for the Santa Barbara Wine Festival, please visit http://www.sbnature.org/winefestival.
Hope to see you there. Cheers!
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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 17, 2016.