Machine harvesters ply the vineyards by night and hand crews snip grape clusters by day, yet despite the rigors of crush, Santa Barbara County’s busy winemakers find time for a party. During the second weekend of October, local vintners invite wine lovers everywhere to join them for their annual Celebration of Harvest at Rancho Sisquoc Winery.
Presented by the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association (SBCVA), Celebration of Harvest showcases the bounty of the county, from its wonderful wines and fresh produce, to locally made treats. This happy gathering offers a rare opportunity to taste not only the wares of more than 100 local wineries, but also the food of at least 30 area chefs, all in one scenic location.
Member wineries pour their new releases, current favorites, and sometimes even a barrel sample or two. Knowledgeable servers are on hand at each table to answer questions and provide insights into how the wines are made and how best to match them with a meal.
Restaurants and food purveyors slated to attend Celebration of Harvest include Babé Farms, Ballard Inn, Global Gardens, Guadalupe’s Far Western Tavern, Full of Life Flatbread (based in Los Alamos), and from Santa Maria, Chef Rick’s, Panera Bread, Trader Joe’s, and Trattoria Uliveto. Each chef and proprietor will dish up signature edibles with wine pairing possibilities in mind.
Exhibits and extras range from alfresco galleries set up by local artists, to interactive, blind varietal tastings. According to Fran Clow, SBCVA executive administrator, “We’re also putting together a ‘from vine to bottle’ bottling line exhibition/demonstration, weather permitting.”
On the upper level of the winery grounds, the House Red Band plays vintage rock, soul, and blues classics, while on the lawn below, Lady Blue, featuring Donna Greene, provides toe-tapping entertainment.
Each fall, this ultimate wine and food festival features a silent auction to benefit local charities. As always, tempting auction lots cover a wide array of offerings, such as special winery dinners, large-format bottles of coveted wines, and gift-boxed, vertical flights of wine.
Though Celebration of Harvest anchors the long weekend, the party is much larger than a single festival, with auxiliary events spilling into the four corners of wine country over four glorious days. From sampling library wines at Consilience to helping with crush at Jaffurs Wine Cellars, oenophiles will find plenty to sip, savor, stomp, and admire.
On Friday, Oct. 9, Gainey Vineyard presents a farmers market chock full of locally produced lavender, pies, honey, meats, and wine cupcakes, along with live music and tri-tip sandwiches. That night, Carina Cellars hosts a cooking class guaranteed to reveal the finer points of preparing Italian cuisine, while Byron, Coquelicot, and Foxen vineyards, as well as Hitching Post Wines, host lavish winemaker dinners.
Open houses abound on all the wine trails, providing glimpses of the vinicultural process, as well as a variety of entertaining (and tasty) extras. Located along the Solvang Wine Walk, Lucas and Lewellen and Mandolina pair exotic cheeses with their fine vintages, while Wine Country, in Los Olivos, features the terroir-driven beauties of Silver Wines.
In the Santa Rita Hills, Lafond lays out artisan cheeses, fresh breads, and dessert bites, along with goodies from the famous Taco Stand. Babcock Winery unveils the 2008 Grand Cuvee Pinot Noir, and Huber Cellars debuts the unique “Hafen” Dornfelder dessert wine in a homey facility not normally open to the public.
On Saturday, join friends at the Brander Vineyard for a traditional barbecue and then head over to Kenneth Volk Vineyards for a Santa-Maria style spread of tri-tip and chicken prepared with gourmet flair.
Sunday at Buttonwood Farm Winery, winemaker Karen Steinwachs leads the annual trek through the gorgeous mesa-top vineyard, and then presides over a sumptuous buffet beside the Buttonwood pond. That same day, Flying Goat and Fiddlehead cellars invite wine fans to facilities off the beaten track to sample library vintages paired with light appetizers.
Also on Sunday, Longoria Wines celebrates the release of the latest Blues cuvee label by pouring the new 2007 Blues Cuvee amid live blues music, while Tantara Winery hosts its famous bi-annual open house and barbecue. That day the potent triad of Au Bon Climat, Qupé, and Verdad open their Santa Maria Mesa facility for one of two annual events combining fabulous food, an exuberant crowd, and the wines of three stellar producers.
Monday finds die-hard wine fans revisiting their favorite haunts and trying out some new ones. With a Vintners’ Visa, they can taste at 12 of more than 35 participating wineries without having to pay any fees at the door.
From barrel tastings to winemaker dinners, lively events crowd the long Celebration of Harvest weekend. Yes, fall is a busy season, but if winemakers in the throes of crush can make time for a party, surely we can, too.
K. Reka Badger always makes time for a party. E-mail comments or ideas to rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Oct 1-8, 2009.