Tag archives: wine

For these five bartenders, this was a tall order, indeed: create a mixed drink that encapsulates the essence, the beauty, and the charm of Santa Barbara. They shook and muddled and stirred, and at the end of this annual bartender contest, The Lark came out on top. Their “Sticky Fingers,” a gin- and mezcal-based cocktail […]

There’s a new walking tour in town! It’s a tour of the Funk Zone and it’s free. If it’s too good to be true, this one is true. This is all because John Ummel took walking tours in Europe so when he came to Santa Barbara, he went to the city fathers to suggest we […]

Gourmands and oenophiles were out in force at the Wine Shepherd when the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum threw an intimate bash to mark the 38th year of its popular wine and food festival in June, which is expected to raise $130,000 for educational programs. The fest on the 14-acre campus along the shaded banks […]

Animal activist Gretchen Lieff and Lucky’s owner Gene Montesano have teamed up to create Montlieff Rosé, a combination of their last names. “Rosé is the fastest growing varietal along the Central Coast and we’re among a number answering the call,” says Gretchen, whose 40-acre Alamo Creek Ranch vineyard in southern San Luis Obispo County produces […]

The mad social whirl was at full throttle when UCSB Arts & Lectures hosted parties for guest speakers at the Granada and Campbell Hall. The first was held at the charming Montecito residence of Audrey and Tim Fisher, the former home of actor James Brolin, for global photographer James Balog, who spoke about his new […]

Major supporters of the 119-year-old Family Service Agency came together for a President’s Circle reception at the rustic Birnam Wood home of Carole Macelhenny. UCSB professor Mario Garfield spoke about the pressures facing young people in this age of new technology to the 30 guests, including Jim and Shirley Ann Hurley, Kevin and Marianne McCarthy, […]

Restaurateurs Doug Margerum and Mitchell Sjerven have sold their interest in the historic Santa Barbara eatery The Wine Cask. Doug, also a noted winemaker, is also opening a new Margerum tasting room in the Hotel Californian next year, he tells me. “It will be a spectacular space with 22-foot-high ceilings, a kitchen, heated patio, and […]

It’s not every day you see a crowd of hungry revelers enjoying local food and wine while dressed in togas. Yet, that’s exactly what you’ll find at the “Feast of Apicius” event on Saturday, October 20, at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.  Held from 2 to 5 pm in Fleischmann Auditorium, this delicious wine […]

Friendship Center gave its 8th annual Wine Down and Big Heart Awards at its Montecito location. As executive director Heidi Holly said, “Thursday is the new Friday.” That’s because their event was on a Thursday and everyone was wining down. Friendship Center in Montecito and Goleta “share the care” for ageing and dependent adults through […]

“There is a thin semantic line separating weird and beautiful. And that line is covered in jellyfish.” So said choreographer Doug Elkins at the Lobero Theater a couple of weeks ago, perhaps answering a question posed by one of the members of the Friday Club. Or more than likely not. Elkins is the high-energy, self-described […]

Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force when the California Wine Festival, which encompasses three different events, celebrated its 15th anniversary, kicking off with its Old Spanish Nights tasting fiesta at the historic De La Guerra Adobe courtyard, which attracted a record 500 guests. Montecito-based Blaine Lando, one of the fest’s three owners, along with […]

Last year’s departure of the Chase Palm Park carousel after being ensconced in the prime location directly across the street from the ocean and just two blocks from Stearns Wharf for decades was a rude shock to families and others who delighted in taking a turn on the classy merry-go-round. But for others, it’s nothing […]

When the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) began its Wine Festival, it was only about wine. Today it’s an even bigger event with the addition of restaurants’ food samples to go with wine. Ever-popular with another sellout crowd of 900 tickets this year three weeks before the event. Add in the vendors and […]

It was an evening of good libations when Visit Santa Barbara hosted its second annual sold-out official drink of our Eden by the Beach contest at the historic El Paseo restaurant. Out of 25 entrants, five establishments were chosen to compete in the finals, with the winner being the Four Seasons with its Biltmore Fuerte, […]

Back in the late 1970s, Bob Lindquist of Qupé Winery was the leader of the local Les Amis du Vin group. He organized wine-tasting lunches with guest winemakers at the University Club of Santa Barbara or Mattei’s Tavern. Bob invited me to help him bottle his first vintage. We worked with an early bottling truck, […]

While I’m all for vacations to far off places, summer in Santa Barbara is a special time – especially if you love food and wine. For all you oenophiles who need an excuse to stick around this summer, there’s a plethora of fun wine and food-related events in the coming months. From weekly wine tastings […]

I became intrigued and enamored with fine wine once upon a time, long ago in my early 20s when a friend brought a bottle of Montevina White Cabernet Sauvignon to our table. I liked it so much better with our lunch than my usual soda pop or milk. I envisioned wine to be a giant […]

The oenophiles we’re out in force when Grassini vineyards opened its new 1,400-sq.-ft. tasting room at the historic El Paseo. The 104-acre vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley was planted in 2002 and mayor Cathy Murillo cut a ribbon to mark the new opening. Among the guests quaffing the vino and noshing on the bounteous […]

When he awoke the morning of January 9, wine maker (2018 “Vintner of the Year”) and longtime Montecito resident Fred Brander found himself sharing space with nearly 900 tons of mud, rocks, and boulders that hadn’t been on his property the night before. His home is north of East Mountain Drive and none of the […]