This week we have been bottling Lafond wines at the Santa Barbara Winery production facility. We do all of the bottling for both Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond right downtown because we have our own bottling line in the warehouse behind the tasting room.
Bottling is an incredibly laborious process, requiring numerous hands and teamwork. Thousands of bottles are running down the line being labeled, capsuled, filled, foiled, and hand placed in case boxes, that are themselves stickered, stamped, and stacked. Once bottled, the wines are not released right away, as they require bottle age to fully come together and out of bottle shock.
I have worked on a bottling line before, and it is one of the many steps of the winemaking process that is eye opening in terms of the amount of incredibly hard work that goes into making wine from grape to bottle. When I bottled I got to take home wines at the end of the day that I hd helped bottle.
I recently drank one, and it was a great feeling to be drinking something that I had a small part (very small part) in putting together. Regardless, my hands were on the bottle at some point as it was going down the line, being placed hurriedly in a case box.
Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Next week I will be traveling throughout California attending The Henry Wine Group Trade Tastings. Our wine is distributed in California by The Henry Wine Group, and these tastings provide the opportunity to visit and engage three different markets: San Francisco (March 22), San Diego (March 24), and Los Angeles (March 25).
Come join as at Lafond Winery this Saturday, December 5 as we toast the Holiday season along with the rest of Sta. Rita Hills. We will be having a Holiday Open House from 10am-5pm. Join us for an artisan cheese spread, fresh bread and desserts that pair with our wines, while finding that perfect holiday gift for the wine lover on your list in our tasting room.
The 28th Annual Taste of the Town will be held this Saturday, September 13 at the Riviera Park Gardens (12-3pm). Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro and Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery are looking forward to participating at the beautiful venue alongside numerous local favorites.
Please join us at the 2009 Seventh Annual Malibu Wine Classic Charity Event benefitting Childhelp at the Malibu Civic Center this Saturday, August 29.
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