Archive for the 'Special Events' Category

Lafond BBQs and Spiritland Bistro Dinners

Published
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joanie
on August 6, 2008
in Joanie Hudson, Special Events, Wine Club and Wine and Food Pairing
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A couple of fun things to announce that are coming up quickly!

First off, I hope that wine club members that are able to attend have all signed up for the Annual BBQ up at Lafond Vineyard this Saturday (August 9).  We are so excited about it here at the winery and very much looking forward to the food, the wine, the venue, and getting to mingle with our beloved loyal customers.  

Also, I wrote earlier about the Rose Wine and Dine Dinner hosted by Spiritland Bistro last week, but have yet to write any after thoughts.  To put it simply, if you live in Santa Barbara and have any interest at all in wine (which I assume that if you are reading this you most likely do), this is an event that you just can’t skip.  

It was just so much fun, the company was fantastic, and apparently the Rose dinner set a record for the number of bottles consumed at one of these dinners (the Rose dinner was the sixth one).  The cat is out of the bag and getting a coveted seat at this event is getting tougher and tougher as almost everybody I was with signed up for as many dinners that were scheduled for the rest of the year at the end of the event last time.  

The one that I wanted to announce on our website is the Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir themed dinner that will be on October 6.  Ryan Ralston, our assistant winemaker, will be the speaker and will be there to represent Lafond Winery (I will be there as well of course - I was one of those people who signed up through the end of October).  I’m not sure yet what the menu will be as it is in progress right now, but as soon as I know I will post it here first.  I have already decided that I am bringing our 06 Lafond Martin Ray Clone Pinot because it is my favorite!  

The next dinner is August 27 and the theme is Viognier/Roussanne/Marsanne.  The speaker will be Jaffurs Wine Cellars, one of my local favorites for rhone varietals such as these.  Here is the menu below:

First Course: Assorted gourmet cheeses

Second Course: Corn & Spinach Chowder with crispy onions and chile oil

Third Course: Halibut with Asian-style Julienned Vegetables in a coconut lemon grass sauce, over red angel hair pasta

Fourth Course: Coconut Tapioca Pudding with pan sauteed caramelized peaches and roasted hazelnuts

$45 includes tax and tip for four-course organic meal.  Bring a bottle to share that matches the theme - no corkage fee!

Spiritland Bistro 966-7759

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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84th Annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta

Published
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joanie
on July 20, 2008
in Other News and Special Events
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As we officially celebrate Fiesta here at the Santa Barbara Winery tasting room with the Flamenco Arts Festival fundraiser on August 1, Santa Barbara will be busy hosting numerous other celebrations all over town with the start of the 84th Annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta. 

This long celebratory weekend is one that Santa Barbara locals look forward to all year.  The spirit of the community is brought together for a four day period from July 30-August 3 to celebrate and raise awareness of Santa Barbara’s diverse cultural heritage.  The ongoing festivities provide an opportunity for fundraising to benefit local charities and nonprofits.  This stretch of activities, shows and parades provide a wonderful background to explore the town, whether you are a local or visiting from out of town. 

Go wine tasting, support local restaurants, shop at the Mercado De La Guerra (a temporary open air market), and head over to State St. to watch the Fiesta Parade.  The tradition has been picking up steam with each year that passes since the first parade, which took place on August 13, 1924.  So splash some color into your wardrobe and be part of the festive mood brought on by the celebration of community.

To see a full list of events, check out the Old Spanish Days Fiesta official website.

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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Fiesta Sevillanas - Fundraiser at Santa Barbara Winery

Published
by
joanie
on July 15, 2008
in Joanie Hudson, Open House, Other News, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events
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Flamenco Arts Festival in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Winery presents Fiesta Sevillana!

The Santa Barbara Winery will be hosting a fundraiser to benefit the outreach and education initiatives of the Flamenco Arts Festival on Friday, August 1 from 6:00 to 8:30pm.  The after hours event will take over the facility with wine being served in the tasting room and appetizers will be served in the barrel room.  
Quoting the promotional postcard we have in the tasting room:
“Join us for an evening of great wine, delicious appetizers, and Spanish dancing to benefit the Flamenco Arts Festival.  Sevillanas is the most popular dance in Spain and a must at every festive occasion.  Bring a friend and learn to dance Sevillanas in a joyful celebration of the arts!”

So apparently we will be learning to dance as well.  Dancing, food, and wine in a winery setting?  Where do I sign up? Well, I’ll tell you… Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at the Arlington Ticket Agency (1317 State St. 805-963-4408).  Click image for more information:

Wait, there’s more… Wine will be available for purchase at a 20% discount (wine club discount)

If you want to find out more about the Flamenco Arts Festival please visit their website, flamencoarts.org.  You can also call the winery for any further information, 963-3633.

Spanish costumes encouraged.

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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Sta. Rita Hills Open House Weekend

Published
by
joanie
on June 15, 2008
in Articles on Wine and Vineyards, Joanie Hudson, Lafond Winery, Open House and Special Events
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In addition to the Solstice Parade and Festival this weekend, the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance will host the 2008 Open House weekend (June 21 & 22) to showcase the burgeoning appellation.  Numerous events and morning vineyard walks will allow guests to get an in-depth and close up look at the region.

Two-day passports are available for $75 and includes:

*Access to Open Houses at participating wineries

*A picnic box lunch created by Lafond Bistro (pick up your lunch at Lafond Winery between 11:30 and 1:30)

*Gala Reception at Sanford and Benedict barn on Saturday evening

*Morning Vineyard Walks

For more details, including wineries that will hold open houses, see the events page at www.staritahills.com.  There are additional events going on, such as winemaker dinners and a golf outing, available at additional costs.

Lafond Winery will have an Open House on Saturday from 10-2:30pm and on Sunday from 10-5pm.  On Saturday winemaker Bruce McGuire will offer 2007 barrel samples and select library tastings in the barrel room.  Light appetizers will also be served.  The Open House will continue on Sunday.

This event only happens once a year and provides a unique opportunity to meet the winemakers and increase your knowledge of Santa Barbara’s wine country.

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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Santa Barbara Solstice Festival and Parade

Published
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joanie
on June 15, 2008
in Joanie Hudson and Special Events
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In the wake of the Bistro’s upcoming Solstice wine pairing dinner I wanted to make sure to mention that the celebration will continue through the week, culminating in the Solstice Parade and Festival.  Santa Barbara’s largest single-day arts event will be held at noon on Saturday June 21, the weekend following the longest day of the year.  The parade begins at noon on the corner of State and Cota St. and continues into the evening with a festival held at Alameda Park (Anacapa and Micheltorena St.).  Part of the proceeds for our Solstice Pairing Dinner on Tuesday evening will go towards this wonderful local celebration.

Summer Solstice Parade began in Santa Barbara in 1974 and has increased in popularity with every passing year.  Handmade floats, decorative costumes, and jewel adorned masks whimsically weave their way up State St. where a crowd of over 100,000 spectators gather.  In addition to the enthusiastic throng of people who show up to watch-sitting on curbs, beach chairs, standing, or walking along-over 1000 people participate in the parade. 

The procession of people and floats end up in Alameda Park, where the Solstice Festival awaits their arrival.  The Festival actually opens on Friday evening and runs from 4-9pm, and prepartiers eager to begin celebrating can enjoy energetic drum beats, live world music, and dancing.  After the parade the Festival runs from 12:30 to 8pm and will house a Beer Garden, a special children’s area, food, and again, plenty of music.  The floats and costumes that appear in the parade are made by community members at the Soltice Workshop, in which anybody can participate in and bring their creative ideas to life. 

To find out more about the Santa Barbara Solstice Celebration visit www.solsticeparade.com.

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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The New Patio at Lafond Winery

Published
by
Pierre
on June 11, 2008
in Lafond Winery, Special Events, Weddings and Wine News
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We are completing a new patio which, for lack of a better name, we are calling our VIP Patio. But stay tuned, we will certainly need to come up with a better name.

We built on the side of the winery as you approach from Santa Rosa Road. In Santa Rita Hills you are almost guaranteed to have wind. It you usually comes up before noon and lasts until late afternoon or until the fog rolls in. We think of it as invigorating but for many it creates havoc with tablecloths and light plastic or paper tableware. The wind brings in the ocean breeze and cools the vineyard and makes possible the fantastic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that we grow here.

The Patio is connected to the production winery through what we always referred as the VIP room, thus the name of the patio — for now. The Patio is surrounded by a wall and since it is on the leeward side of the winery it affords a great deal of wind protection.

We hope to use it for small groups, that can be catered, of up to 50 people, preferably less.
Call Mirella Valdez, our Tasting Room Manager, for additional information 805.688.7921.
Click the images to enlarge:

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Fontina Val d Aosta Cheese

Published
by
joanie
on May 18, 2008
in Joanie Hudson, Restaurant News, Santa Barbara Winery and Special Events
. 0 Comments

Another yummy sandwich featured on the Pierre Lafond Bistro’s Thursday night Grilled Cheese menu is Fontina pressed between two slices of artisan sourdough bread with prosciutto.  The suggested wine pairing is Pinot Noir, but I would also say you could go with our off-dry Riesling.  

Fontina is an Italian cheese made from cow’s milk of which there are many variations produced throughout the world.  Originally and famously it is produced in the Alps, specifically in Italy’s Aosta Valley (Val d’Aosta) bordering France and Switzerland.  Additional areas of production include other parts of Italy as well as Denmark, Sweden, and France.  Its creamy texture morphs with age - softer in its youth and progressively firmer as it matures.  The 45% milkfat content lends to its buttery richness.  Like Gruyere, Fontina cheese melts well and is great for grilled panini sandwiches and fondue.  The peasized holes scattered throughout the cheese are a classic characteristic as well as its earthy and nutty flavors, both of which become more prominent with age.  The color is reminiscent of the sun beating on straw and along with its mild fruitiness there is a sweet hint of honey that is left to linger.  

The Italian variation of Fontina is typically aged for longer periods of time than, for example, the Danish version.  The aging affects the texture, making the Danish version more of a semi-soft creamy cheese.  The darker the rind gets the older it is.  When buying the cheese, look out for the Italian stamp of quality on the label. 

Another ingredient in the Fontina sandwich is prosciutto, whose saltiness cuts right through the fattiness of the cheese and adds a meaty quality to the mix.  A nice and mellow Pinot Noir is a great complement as the raspberry notes work well with the nuttiness of the cheese, and its acidity also slides right through the fat.  Mushroom notes in the cheese (which really presents itself in an aged Fontina) work well with Pinot Noir’s characteristic earthiness.

Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery

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