{"id":6768,"date":"2014-09-05T17:48:06","date_gmt":"2014-09-06T00:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6768"},"modified":"2014-09-05T15:54:53","modified_gmt":"2014-09-05T22:54:53","slug":"cocktail-corner-smile-sideways-to-win-friendship-center-wine-down-bien-nacido-winemakers-dinner-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6768","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Smile Sideways to Win, Friendship Center Wine Down, Bien Nacido Winemakers\u2019 Dinner & More"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Courtesy

Courtesy Visit Santa Barbara<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Sideways<\/em><\/a> celebrations continue on this week with a special\u00a010th <\/span>Anniversary Sign Promotion September 5th <\/span>\u2013 14th\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>100 different locations throughout Santa Barbara County. To celebrate the Oscar-winning film and its impact on the local wine scene,\u00a0100 six-foot tall signs featuring Miles and Jack are being placed at locations used in the film and other high-traffic areas around Santa Barbara County.<\/p>\n

Fans can pose with the signs and then\u00a0enter their photos to win the ultimate Santa Barbara Wine Country vacation (or staycation for those who are local). Photos must be tagged with #Sideways10 on Twitter or Instagram, or uploaded manually to Sideways10.com\/Enter<\/a>. Each daily winner takes home a copy of the movie on Blu-rayTM + Digital HD, while one lucky Grand Prize winner receives the ultimate vacation in Santa Barbara Wine Country, including four hotel night stays, wine tasting adventures, delectable dining, and ocean and\u00a0land excursions.<\/p>\n

\"Pose

Pose with these Sideways celebration signs and you could win big! Photo courtesy Visit Santa Barbara.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sign locations in Santa Barbara include:\u00a0Au Bon Climat<\/a>, AVA Santa Barbara<\/a>, Conway Deep Sea Tasting Room<\/a>, Grassini Family Vineyards<\/a>, Kalyra by the Sea Tasting Room<\/a>, Kunin Wines<\/a>, La Cumbre Plaza<\/a>,\u00a0Margerum Wine Company<\/a>,\u00a0Pali Wine Co.<\/a>, Paseo Nuevo<\/a>, Santa Barbara Public Market<\/a>, Silver Wines<\/a>\u00a0and Wine Cask<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Solvang is calling all wine aficionados to participate in the\u00a0Merlot Taste-Off\u00a0<\/a>event on September 13 as a tribute to the movie\u00a0Sideways<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The event pays homage to the wine variety made famous in the Oscar-winning film, when\u00a0Miles famously says,\u00a0\u201cIf anyone orders merlot, I\u2019m leaving. I am not drinking any (expletive) merlot!\u201d Tracy Farhad, executive director of the\u00a0Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau<\/a>, has a rebuttal. \u201cNo more denigrating merlot! Come taste these marvelous wines for yourself.\u201d \u00a0Participating wineries include\u00a0Baehner Fournier<\/a>,\u00a0Buttonwood<\/a>,\u00a0Carivintas<\/a>,\u00a0Core<\/a>,\u00a0Dascomb<\/a>,\u00a0Happy Canyon Vineyard<\/a>,\u00a0J. Ludlow<\/a>,\u00a0Lions Peak<\/a>,\u00a0Lucas & Lewellen<\/a>,\u00a0Point Concepcion<\/a>,\u00a0Sagebrush Annies<\/a>,\u00a0Sevtap<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Sunstone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The event is a\u00a0benefit for the nonprofit Solvang Festival Theatre\u00a0(420 Second St., Solvang), which is also, conveniently, where it takes place.\u00a0For information and tickets call 805\/688-6144 or visit\u00a0SolvangUSA.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Caf\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0(2879 Grand Ave., Los Olivos)\u00a0hosts\u00a0its\u00a0first-ever\u00a0\u201cRock Steady\u201d Bien Nacido Winemakers\u2019 Dinner\u00a0<\/a>on\u00a0September 18 \u00a0at 6\u00a0p.m.\u00a0Three of Santa Barbara County\u2019s winemaking elite\u2014Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat<\/a>,\u00a0Bob Lindquist of Qupe<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Trey Fletcher of Bien Nacido Estate<\/a>\u2014will be pouring their specially paired Bien Nacido vineyard-designate wines with a six-course meal created by Caf\u00e9\u00a0Chef Chris Joslyn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For reservations call\u00a0805\/688-7265 ext. 203 or\u00a0click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Friendship Center<\/a>, the south coast\u2019s only nonprofit, fully licensed adult day services program, will have\u00a0its\u00a05th<\/sup>\u00a0Annual Wine Down<\/a>, Friday, September 19 from 4-7 p.m.\u00a0This casual yet festive event features local vintners pouring their wines for tasting, delicious Asian-inspired hors d\u2019oeuvres by\u00a0Spices N Rice<\/a>\u00a0and live music by\u00a0Montecito Jazz Project<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Held\u00a0al fresco<\/em>\u00a0in the courtyard of the\u00a0lovely center in Montecito, this Friday after-work gathering will give guests a chance to enjoy a lovely late-summer evening and \u201cwine down\u201c from the cares of the week. A small silent auction will offer carefully selected gift baskets featuring high-quality wine and wine-related items.<\/p>\n

Participating wineries include:\u00a0Andrew Murray Vineyards<\/a>,\u00a0Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard<\/a>,\u00a0Consilience & Tre Anelli<\/a>,\u00a0Cottonwood Canyon Winery<\/a>,\u00a0Demetria<\/a>,\u00a0Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard<\/a>,\u00a0Pali Wine Co.<\/a>,\u00a0Palmina<\/a>,\u00a0Santa Barbara Winery<\/a>,\u00a0Tower 15 Winery<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Vinemark Cellars<\/a>. Beer from\u00a0Surf Brewery<\/a>\u00a0will also be featured.<\/p>\n

The Friendship Center is located at 89 Eucalyptus Lane in Montecito. To purchase tickets click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Solvang\u2019s\u00a0Wandering Dog Wine Bar<\/a>\u00a0(1539-C Mission Dr.)\u00a0has the first\u00a0\u201cFriday Night Wines\u201d class of the season on Friday,\u00a0September 5 at 6 p.m.\u00a0In the September class, guests will learn about the history of Santa Barbara as a wine country, and will sample wines from the five distinct AVAs in the County.\u00a0Reservations may be made\u00a0directly\u00a0through Wandering Dog Wine Bar, by calling\u00a0805\/686-9126<\/a>\u00a0or emailing\u00a0jody@wanderingdogwinebar.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hope to see you out and about! Cheers!<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for more cocktail corner columns.<\/p>\n

\"Leslie<\/a>

Leslie Dinaberg<\/p><\/div>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS<\/a>, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Originally published in\u00a0Santa Barbara Seasons\u00a0<\/em><\/a>on September 5,\u00a02014.<\/span><\/p>\n

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