One of my favorite new wineries is actually not new at all. Established in 1978, Babcock Winery & Vineyards in Lompoc, CA has a rich history in the Santa Ynez Valley and is one of the best producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir around. Back in 1978, Mona & Walter Babcock purchased a 110 acre property on [...]
In what was once an old, rundown industrial area just west of Santa Barbara's bustling shopping district, the Funk Zone has emerged as a hub of unique art, culture, food & artisan wine. In my opinion, it's one of the best things to happen to Santa Barbara in a long time. With a number of shops, galleries, [...]
Over the last year or so, I've fallen madly in love with Sonoma County. In particular, the area of the Russian River Valley encircled by the towns of Guerneville, Sebastopol & Healdsburg. From the towering Redwoods to the rocky coastline and everything in between, the natural beauty in this area is unsurpassed. The more I [...]
Last weekend, some of the finest local, small production wine making talent around gathered at the Veterans Memorial Building in Solvang, CA for the 2nd annual "Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure". This year, a Grand Tasting was held on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon, with a different lineup each day. With 60 wineries pouring over the [...]
I've known about the Lompoc Wine Ghetto for ages, but for some reason, I never had a strong desire to visit. I had a preconceived notion that it was an easy access, multiple tasting room destination that catered to those who prefer quantity over quality. After visiting for the first time this weekend, I could [...]
Tucked away on an idyllic parcel of land on the Westside of Paso Robles lies the Terry Hoage Vineyards and tasting room. In the rustic winery perched right across the small parking lot from his home, Terry Hoage and his wife Jennifer are hand-crafting some of the finest wines to come out of Paso Robles. [...]
By definition, the term "garagistes" refers to a group of innovative, renegade wine makers from the Bordeaux region who refuse to follow the strict French rules and instead, produce "Vins de garage" or "Garage wine". For the second year in a row, Paso Robles has celebrated the spirit of the garagiste movement by holding a [...]
* UPDATE 8/13: CLOSED. The tasting room is now owned by J Dusi Wines I've wanted to try Edward Sellers' wines for years. It was always on my list, however because the tasting room was located in downtown Paso Robles, it usually ended up at the bottom as a last place to visit before dinner. [...]
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Booker Vineyard's annual member release party and I wanted to share some photos of what ended up being an incredible day. The wine, food, music and setting couldn't have been more perfect. Pier 46 Seafood Market and Thomas Hill Organics catered the event and provided a delicious [...]
The wine country just north of Santa Barbara is hands down one of my favorite destinations for a weekend trip. Considering how often I visit the area, I've made it a point to find out which wineries are dog friendly. Just as I discovered in Paso Robles, Santa Barbara is full of wineries that welcome [...]
Wine-ding Road 