• On March 15, Gov. Gavin Newsom asked wineries, bars, nightclubs, and brewpubs to close their doors to customers to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The governor’s request is not mandatory as of March 16, so check your favorite venue’s website for details. According to Santa Barbara County Vintners, some wineries are shipping their orders and offering new online deals. In some areas, customers can have wines brought to their doors by grocery delivery services. The governor also asked restaurants to limit their venues to half-capacity or to only serve take-out food. Many North County restaurants are stepping up their delivery options, so visit their websites for more information. The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce offered a few ways to support local restaurants during the public health crisis. “If you are nervous about eating out, pick up a to-go order; many also offer delivery services, either directly or through third-party apps. Purchase gift cards for later use,” a March 13 statement from the chamber reads. “Your patronage will help keep your neighbors employed and keep resources circulating in our community.” For more information, visit santamaria.com.
• Santa Barbara County Vintners also announced that it moved the date of its 2020 Santa Barbara Vintners Festival to Oct. 10. The festival was originally scheduled for May 2. It will still be held at Rancho Sisquoc Winery in the Santa Maria Valley from 1 to 4 p.m. with early admission at noon. Highlights of the event include more than 70 local wine producers and food from local restaurants, farmers, and caterers, plus a sparkling wine lounge, educational demonstrations, and live music. This date happens to correspond with the traditional Harvest Festival, also held at Rancho Sisquoc. If you’ve already bought your tickets for the May date, the vintners organization will transfer those tickets to October if you’re able to attend. Refunds are available otherwise. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sbvintnersweekend.com. m
Send updated restaurant, winery, brewery, coffee shop, and any other foodie info to Associate Editor Andrea Rooks at arooks@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Mar 19-26, 2020.
