Archive for the 'Special Events' Category

Urban Wine Trail Trolley Tour Saturday December 5th – 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Published on November 20, 2009 in Special Events. 0 Comments

Santa Barbara’s downtown wine trail, consisting of 11 wineries within the city limits, and the Unity Shoppe have teamed up to give holiday revelers a safe and fun adventure in their own backyard.

On December 5th at 6:00pm guests can tour the Urban Wine Trail by trolley. Each winery will pour limited release wines from Santa Barbara County accompanied by delicious appetizers.

The trolley, donated by Santa Barbara Trolley Company, will shuttle people from winery to winery, although many of the wineries located in the downtown Funk Zone are within walking distance of one another.

Participating wineries include Carr Vineyards and Winery, Jaffurs Wine Cellars, Kalyra Winery, Kunin Wines, Oreana Winery, Santa Barbara Winery, Summerland Winery, Westerley Vineyards, Whitcraft Winery, Wine Cask Alliance, and the newest addition to the Urban Wine Trail, Municipal Winemakers.

As an added bonus, there will be a four person vintage Rolls-Royce on a first come, first serve basis for folks as well!
The cost of the event is $50 per person. Tickets are available at participating wineries, and from the Unity Shoppe at 805.886.0613.
Come join the Trolley Tour through Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail!
For more information call Santa Barbara Winery 805 963 3633 or Email.

November SB Winery Wine Club Pick Up Party

Published on October 30, 2009 in Special Events and Wine Club. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Please join us for the 2009 November Santa Barbara Winery Wine Club Pick Up Party. This will be our third Pick Up Party after the success we have been having with these events since our first in May. Stop by the winery between 11:00am-2:00pm on Saturday November 14th, pick up your wine, sample the current selection and pair a tasty culinary selection of small bites from our Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro.

If you normally get your wine shipped and would like to attend, just give Suzanne a call and we’ll hold it for pick-up on this day. Save the shipping cost and come visit. Reservations are required so give us a call or email. We will be wrapping up Harvest here at the winery and there may even be some fermenting white grape juice floating around…

Wine Club Members receive 20% off all purchases, free wine tasting, and access to Special Events. Not to mention that these benefits apply to both Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Winery. If you are not in our wine club and are interested in becoming a member, you can sign up on our website, by phone, or in the tasting room.
wine@sbwinery.com 805-963-3633

Harvest Festival Recap 2009

Published on October 12, 2009 in Harvest, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

We had a great time pouring at the 2009 Harvest Festival this past Saturday — the wines and the turnout were spectacular. 

I love the setup of this Festival.  Though they attempt to make it alphabetical, it never quite turns out that way, and it can be a maze to find what you’re looking for.  But that causes guests to stumble upon wineries or restaurants that they may have otherwise passed if only going by their checklist of places they know they like. 

I talked to a handful of people who were pleased with their happy accidents.  The venue is beautiful — a grassy, soft hilled area at Rancho Sisquoc Winery in Santa Maria.  White tents are backdropped by the rolling Santa Ynez hillsides, blue skies, and grazing livestock. 

I was prepared for cold, as when we left Downtown Santa Barbara a little before 11, it was socked in grey.  But once we passed over the 154 Highway, that sock quickly disappeared and it was all blue skies from there…

Santa Barbara Winery poured seven wines:

2007 Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Chardonnay

2007 Chardonnay Reserve

2007 Riesling 7.3%

2008 ZCS

2006 Lagrein

2006 Petite Sirah

The Petite Sirah was a perfect match with the individual lamb legs served up by Solvang’s new restaurant, Root 246.  Delicious.

Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Taste of the Town

Published on September 9, 2009 in Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments

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.

ABOUT THE EVENT (from the official website)

Join us for an epicurean adventure! The Taste of the Town is Santa Barbara’s original tasting event, featuring savory samples from over 80 of Santa Barbara’s finest restaurants and premiere wineries. All proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
To view a list of participating restaurants and wineries, click here.

Taste of the Town
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Riviera Park Gardens
2030 Alameda Padre Serra
12:00-3:00 PM

Tickets are $100 pre-sale, and can be bought at the official Taste of the Town Website

2009 Malibu Wine Classic

Published on August 26, 2009 in Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments

Please join us at the 2009 Seventh Annual Malibu Wine Classic Charity Event benefitting Childhelp at the Malibu Civic Center this Saturday, August 29. 

 The Malibu Wine Classic showcases the Central Coast with the most highly regarded wineries from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, combined with top Malibu and Los Angeles area restaurants.

The tasting takes place in the courtyard setting of the Malibu Civic Center overlooking Santa Monica Bay, and benefits Childhelp, the largest non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, education, advocacy and treatment of child abuse.

The ever-popular afternoon “Grand Tasting” featuring tasting portions from more than 60 top selected wineries and almost two dozen restaurants, will take place from 1pm-4pm, with public advance purchase tickets available for $79 per person. A portion of the purchase price ($50) is a tax-deductible charitable donation to Childhelp, a national children’s charity.

- Malibu Wine Classic Official Website

Purchase Tickets

WHEN Saturday, August 29, 2009 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time Zone

WHERE Malibu Civic Center 23555 Civic Center Way Malibu, CA 90265 USA

ATTIRE Casual Attire

FEE Advanced Purchase $79.00 At The Door $100.00

Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Fiesta Winetasting at the Sunken Gardens Recap

Published on August 17, 2009 in Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments

Santa Barbara is brimming with excellent wine tasting venues, but the Courthouse’s Sunken Gardens has to be a favorite.  Elements Restaurant hosted their 4th Annual Fiesta Winetasting on the grassy area this past Saturday, August 15 from 4-7pm. 

A tented area held about 30 wineries, each pouring their most popular wines.  Elements has recently expanded the catering side of their business, and it really showed on Saturday. 

Tables were full of fresh, cube shaped Ahi Poke, fish stuffed sushi, summer vegetable ratatouille, and mini iced cupcakes (to name a few favorites…).  About 600 guests showed up to enjoy sunny skies, delicious wines, and an assortment of finger foods. 

Santa Barbara Winery wines poured at the event:

2007 Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley

2007 Reserve Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

2005 Sangiovese Stolpman Vineyard

2005 Primitivo Joughin Vineyard

 

Lafond Winery wines poured:

2007 Chardonnay SRH

2007 Pinot Noir SRH

2007 Syrah SRH

2007 Pinot Noir Lafond Vineyard Pommard Clone

 

Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Upcoming SBW & Lafond Tasting at East Beach Wine

Published on June 19, 2009 in Lafond Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

If you live in or close to Santa Barbara, perhaps you have visited one of the Friday night tastings hosted by East Beach Wine Company.  I love attending because they put together a fantastic line up week after week of interesting wineries, themes, or distributor hosts.  June 26 they will feature Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Winery hosted by David Lafond and George Fakinos (Local Wholesale).  Pop in, say hi, and taste anytime from 4-7pm at East Beach Wine Shop on Milpas St.  Here is how it is advertised on their website.

June 26 – Lafond Winery & Santa Barbara Winery

Hosted by David Lafond, George Fakinos, and others

Featuring the Lafond wines and our best-selling Santa Barbara Winery wines.

Bruce McGuire, Winemaker Lafond Winery and Santa Barbara Winery. President of Santa Barbara Winery. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in entymology Bruce spent several years working for wineries in Northern California before coming to Santa Barbara Winery in 1981 as winemaker. In that time his wines have received numerous awards and his abilities national recognition.

Bruce was one of the pioneers in the developement of Pinot Noir and Syrah in Santa Barbara County and in California. When Bruce first arrived at the winery he asked that we plant Pinot Noir in our Lafond Vineyard, which we did. Pinot Noir, largely ignored in most of California, has found its true home in Santa Barbara County. As winemaker Bruce controls the total process, from the selection of varieties and clones to plant in the vineyard, to farming practices, cultivation, pruning and when to pick. Accordingly the wines reflect his style and philosophy of winemaking. Bruce lives in Santa Barbara.

David Lafond, General Manager Lafond Winery and Vineyards. David, a native of Santa Barbara, has for many years been a General Contractor. He was, in fact, the general contractor for the new Lafond Winery overseeing the construction and installation of equipment for more than a year. David has been involved with the winery since childhood and will now manage the operations of both the vineyard and the Lafond Winery.

www.eastbeachwine.com
8.00 per person
201 S. Milpas St.

Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Ojai Festival Recap

Published on June 15, 2009 in Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Yesterday was my first time attending the Ojai Wine Festival at Lake Casitas Recreational Area (about a 35 minute drive from Santa Barbara).  The crowd was big at the 23rd Annual, hitting its peak halfway through the festival around 2:30.  The weather was perfect, a cool breeze brushed through the booths every couple of minutes, keeping the space at a pleasant temperature for sipping both white and red wines.  Free 20 minute boat rides were given on the lake, Kettle Korn was popping, pork was pulled, and oysters were shucked.

Santa Barbara Winery Wines Poured:

2007 Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Chardonnay
2007 Reserve Chardonnay
2007 Riesling 7.3
2007 Pinot Noir
2005 Sangiovese
2006 Primitivo

The Ojai Wine Festival is the major fund raiser for the Rotary Club of Ojai-West benefitting the American Red Cross, Ojai Police, Ojai schools, and the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, among others.

Joanie Hudson, Director National and International Marketing
Santa Barbara Winery/Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Natural History Wine Festival

Published on June 1, 2009 in Joanie Hudson and Special Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

A gem of a local tasting is the 22nd Annual Natural History Wine Festival held on the exquisite grounds of Santa Barbara’s Museum of Natural History behind the Mission.  Nestled in the beautiful banks of Mission Creek, the grounds are a top choice for local events.  The beautiful scenery and attractive small scale of the event have attracted an impressive lineup of Central Coast wineries (including one of my favorites from Paso Robles, Tablas Creek Winery). 

Santa Barbara Winery wines will be poured among about 70 other wineries on Saturday June 27 from 2-5pm.  A selection of culinary treats will also be served to accompany the wines. 

Tickets are $50 for members of the museum and $75 for non-members.  Last year’s event sold out, so if you’re interested make sure to not waste another day without a ticket in your possession. 

Proceeds benefit the Museum’s exhibits and educational programs.

Click Here for tickets and more information

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery