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, the Vintners’ Festival takes place Saturday, April 16, at the lovely River Park in Lompoc. This event, the 29th annual celebration of all things wine, brings together more than 110 member wineries and two dozen area chefs for sipping, snacking, and revelry under the clear blue skies of the Central Coast.
“Many of the county’s premier vineyards are located in the Lompoc Valley,” Jim Fiolek, SBCVA’s executive director, explained of Lompoc’s role in the local wine scene, “and the urban winemaking in the city continues to gain attention and draw visitors.
“But it’s not just vines and wines that make Lompoc such a seasonal delight,” he added. “It is a hub of agriculture, and the flower fields of the area just seem to shout ‘It’s spring!’”
This year’s theme, Diversity Perfected, highlights Santa Barbara County’s unique combination of soils, climate, and topography. The east-west-running valleys, marine-influenced breezes, and exquisite geology allow local grape growers to produce more than 65 varieties of grapes, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to Viognier and Pinot Noir.
In keeping with the theme, festival-goers are invited to play Santa Barbara County by the Numbers, a game that encourages them to find and taste the different wine varietals produced by member vintners. Those with the most complete game cards will be entered into a drawing for wine country prizes.
Served under open-air tents, wine just seems to taste better, especially when poured by the people who made it. To enhance the experience, local chefs and specialty food purveyors offer tasty bites created to pair with the wines.
This year’s food line-up includes treats from Avant Tapas & Wines, Hitching Post II, Marmalade Café, and, as always, a hearty dish from Santa Maria’s own Chef Rick.
Theo Stephan, owner of Global Gardens, makes a welcome appearance at the festival and promises to wow guests with her innovative offerings.
“We’ll be there serving our latest Global Gardens Club selection of Santa Ynez Italian Varietal blend EVOO [extra-virgin olive oil],” Stephan said, “as well as a new Blood Orange Dark Balsamic vinegar. We’ll also sample some new surprises and a new ‘Caliterranean’ Savory Spice and Herb Blend.
“I’ve coined the word ‘Caliterranean,’” she revealed with smile, “for my upcoming cookbook series.”
Also on hand will be Susie Q’s, Far Western Tavern, Panera Bread, The Willows at Chumash Resort, Babé Farms, and El Rancho Market. To satisfy a sweet tooth, check out Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolate Company, Decadence Fine Cakes and Confections, and SP Candie Company.
When not sampling goodies, guests can dance to live music. Donna Greene & the Roadhouse Daddies dish up vintage blues and jazz on one stage, while local bluesmen Burning James & the Funky Flames tear it up on the other.
Browse displays of fine art or take a palate-challenging blind tasting. Bid on unusual lots of rare wines at the silent auction or simply sip and people-watch.
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For the first time, organizers are offering VIP Early Entry tickets, a perfect way to taste some favorites before the crowds arrive. These passes admit holders an hour before everyone else and are available in a limited supply.
For those who want to explore the wine trails, the Vintner’s Visa allows tasters to sample, fee free, at up to 12 participating tasting rooms during the weekend. Visa holders are also eligible for special discounts, food pairings, and other perks offered in conjunction with festival weekend.
Ancillary events include open houses, winemaker dinners, and special tastings. A few examples include, on April 15, the Ultimately Fine Blues and Wine Dinner at Chef Ricks, with Costa de Oro’s winemaker, Gary Burk ($85, 937-9512); Fiddlehead Cellars’ Pinkie and Paella, a sit-down dinner at the winery (complete with costume competition, $48, 1-800-251-1225); and a winemaker dinner at the historic La Purisima Mission, hosted by Flying Goat Cellars (735-9032).
On Saturday, Rideau Winery rolls out the carpet for their Mardi Gras Festival ($70, 688-0717), while Babcock Winery’s open house features tastings of more than 20 wines accompanied by light hors d’oeuvres ($20, 736-1455).
Sunday finds Bedford Winery hosting a Blini and Blintzes Sunday Brunch that includes sweet and savory bites made using winemaker Stephan Bedford’s renowned sourdough starters, wine tasting included ($20, 344-2107). In Santa Maria, McKeon-Phillips Winery offers Piggy Wiggy 2011, a roasted pig luncheon paired with wine, barrel tastings, raffle items, and door prizes ($58, 928-3025).
There’s something for everyone during Vintners’ Festival Weekend, four days devoted to wine country fun. So go ahead and lift a few glasses in celebration of spring, grapes, and all things wine.
K. Reka Badger is always a VIP at the Sun. Contact her at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Apr 7-14, 2011.