It’s the time of the year when I’m reminded just how lucky we are to live in the heart of wine country.
Not one, not two, but many elite wine events take place in the coming months, right in our own backyard.
Wine lovers will converge at Shell Beach, Santa Maria Valley, Avila Beach, and the Santa Ynez Valley to get a chance to taste the latest and greatest from some of the best wineries in California and the world.
First up is World of Pinot Noir. The 13th annual celebration of the red noble grape is March 2 and 3 at the Cliffs Resort and Dolphin Bay Resort overlooking the Pacific in Shell Beach.
WOPN features an impressive lineup of cerebral seminars, esteemed panelists, exciting tastings, and divine winemaker dinners, all showcasing pinot noir made by 160 wineries from the most outstanding pinot noir-producing regions on Earth.
Thousands of pinot noir enthusiasts make the annual pilgrimage to the “grand tastings” on Friday and Saturday.
The Friday focus tasting features barrel selections, small lot, and boutique wines bottled at 500 cases or fewer from 80 winery participants.
The Saturday afternoon grand tasting expands to include 120 winery participants, and for the first time includes a tent on the lawn at Dolphin Bay.
Santa Barbara County wine producers will be featured at special dinners and seminars, in addition to the main tastings.
On Saturday, March 2, during a breakout tasting session at the WOPN grand tasting, hear from an esteemed panel of local Rhône Rangers who are crafting “just a little” pinot noir. Santa Barbara County panelists include Chuck Carlson (Curtis and Carlson Wines), Bob Lindquist (Qupé), and Doug Margerum (Margerum Wine Company).
Most World of Pinot Noir events sell out every year, so make sure to get your tickets now. For more information, visit wopn.com or call 489-1758.
The 30th annual Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival returns to the historic Mission Santa Inés in Solvang on Saturday, April 20.
In 1983, 17 local wineries held their first wine-tasting festival at the mission. Three decades and more than 100 new wineries later, the festival comes home to the lovely grounds of the mission to showcase the 54 varietals now being produced in Santa Barbara County.
Vintners’ Fest also offers food from more than two dozen local restaurants and caterers.
It’s a wonderful way to taste what’s new in Santa Barbara County.
Many wineries also plan their own winemaker dinners and open houses the same weekend.
For ticket information, visit sbcountywines.com.
The 2013 Central Coast Wine Classic is July 11 through 14 in Avila Beach. The 29th annual fundraising wine extravaganza spearheaded by Archie McLaren features four days of wine, gourmet food, and fun at the seaside venue.
Events include a six-course, $1,250-per-person wine dinner at Hearst Castle, featuring several renowned California chefs; a Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon symposium, a French Burgundy symposium, Saturday’s Rare and Fine Wine and Lifestyle luncheon and auctions; a Santa Barbara County syrah symposium; and Sunday’s reserve wine tasting featuring 50 California wineries, food, and live music.
Over the last eight years, the wine classic has bestowed grant money totaling more than $1.8 million on 91 nonprofits whose missions are in the healing, performing, and studio arts in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
For details, visit centralcoastwineclassic.org.
Another delightful wine event that focuses on one grape varietal is the Chardonnay Symposium, July 19 through 21 in the Santa Maria Valley.
Now in its fourth year, this is the only event of its kind in the United States solely showcasing chardonnay.
“The Chardonnay Symposium blossomed into a sold-out event last year, with interest from around the world,” said Chris Slaughter, Chardonnay Symposium director and executive director of the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association.
Golden grape enthusiasts gather to taste the different styles of America’s best selling wine. The Grand Tasting will be held Saturday, July 20, outside at Byron Vineyard and Winery overlooking the vast Santa Maria Valley.
More than 50 Chardonnay producers pour their new releases, and some wineries dust off library “chards.” Central Coast chefs will pair their cuisine with chardonnay and demonstrate recipes.
There’s also a lively panel discussion and tasting moderated by Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Steve Heimoff.
“Consumers want to know more about their favorite wine, and winemakers are thrilled to tell their story,” Slaughter added.
Neighboring wineries will hold their own special events to coincide with the symposium.
For details, visit thechardonnaysymposium.com.
And mark your calendar for a few other local wine events:
In Paso Robles, Zinfandel Weekend is March 15 to 17, and the Paso Robles Wine Festival is May 17 to 19.
In San Luis Obispo, the annual Roll Out the Barrels event is June 20 to 23.
And in Lompoc, Wine and Fire is set for Aug. 17. Held at sunset outside on the beautiful grounds of La Purisima Mission, this summer tasting features fine wines from more than 25 Sta. Rita Hills wineries and local barbecue.
Tickets are available at staritahills.com.
I have attended each of these spring and summer wine events, and I highly recommend experiencing any and all of them, especially if you enjoy interacting with winemakers, appreciate learning intricate details of the winemaking and grape-growing process, or just love tasting extraordinary and sometimes impossible-to-find wine.
Sun food and wine columnist Wendy Thies Sell is revved up for wine festival season. Share thoughts at wthies@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 21-28, 2013.