Food & Drink

The rain has stopped and spring appears to be in the house, lending more appeal to the prospect of making weekly trips to the farmers market. Sure, sorting through root crops and salad greens while wearing mittens can be satisfying, but the real delight happens while bagging baby squash and juicy tomatoes in the comfort […]

Seventeen years ago, Meghan and Dan Reeves bought 40 acres among the foothills above Los Olivos. They liked the location, layout, and views, but even more compelling were the six-year-old grapevines climbing the slopes leading up to the house. Today, the vineyard covers three steep acres, and the fruit provides most of the raw material […]

Tis the season when youngsters search grassy fields for hidden eggs—chocolate, hardboiled cackleberries, or plastic ovals filled with candy—and folks exchange baskets brimming with sweets. Spring has sprung, providing the perfect excuse for feasting and expressing gratitude for having survived another winter, regardless of how mild the weather may have been. In Santa Maria, the […]

No matter what the field of endeavor, from oil painting to cooking to carpentry, it seems the professionals get all the glory. Amateurs—whose very title derives from the Latin amare, meaning “to love”—pursue their pastimes for the sheer pleasure of the doing. Home winemakers, like most other amateur do-it-yourselfers, cherish their hobby. All year long, […]

First held in 1983, the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association (SBCVA) spring festival has grown from a casual afternoon of sipping local vintages into a long weekend of wine country fun. With all the winemaker dinners, barrel tastings, and food pairings, wine lovers can spend four full days exploring their favorite beverage. Anchoring the weekend, […]

After a 16-month absence, Wine Country celebrates its re-opening in a new location in the heart of historic Old Town Orcutt. Locals welcome the return of the family-owned bottle shop and wine bar, a haven of thoughtful sipping and stimulating conversation within the sometimes frenetic wine world. The grand re-opening takes place April 1, 2, […]

Although wine may rest in French oak and age quietly in bottles, activity within the wine world never really ceases. The growing season requires constant vigilance in the vineyard, harvest brings a flurry of labor, and winter entails racking, blending, and endless peeks into aromatic barrels. In early spring, just as the next vintage emerges […]

“Oh, wasn’t it the happy days when troubles we had not, And our mothers make colcannon in the little skillet pot,” says the traditional Irish song. On the threshold of spring, we face certain obligatory ceremonial acts, such as joyful Mardi Gras toasts and lugubrious tax preparations. Between the two lies a lighthearted excuse for […]

Santa Barbara County’s winemakers come from a dazzling diversity of backgrounds. Despite their differences, however, they share a generous streak that compels them to step up in support of worthy causes. The members of the local wine community regularly lend a helping hand to both regional and international charities. From the global good works of […]

Established in 1911 by Danes determined to preserve their heritage, Solvang continues to reign as a haven of Danish culture amid the American landscape. Each spring, in tribute to the town’s founding mothers and fathers, the little burg in the middle of the Santa Ynez Valley plays host to Taste of Solvang to showcase the […]

Forty years ago, Richard Sanford planted Santa Barbara County’s first Pinot Noir, and ever since then, the region has excelled at the grape’s production. Considered a queen among wine grape varieties—albeit a finicky one—Pinot Noir inspires fierce loyalty in its devotees and often drives them to deliver impassioned flurries of poetry and praise. As proof […]

Bordered by fields of growing vegetables, acres of fodder-rich grazing land, an ocean brimming with seafood, and a wonderland of wineries, the Central Coast qualifies as a foodie’s delight. Local residents in search of tasty everyday fare or a sumptuous dinner out need look no further than beyond their own proverbial back yard. Often called […]