Kaena Wine Co., owned by Mikael and Sally Sigouin, soon will close its longtime Los Olivos tasting room and focus on “the Ranch,” its second and newer location at 800 E. Highway 246 in Solvang.
“We will be saying ‘aloha’ to our Los Olivos location this summer,” the couple stated in a newsletter. “As we close this heartwarming chapter, we encourage you to celebrate and toast to all the unforgettable memories that were shared, and we are eternally grateful for everyone.
“This is a very exciting time for our brand, as we truly feel that the ‘mana’ of our Ranch location allows us to accommodate, create and provide our guests with a true ‘Kaena o’hana’ experience.
“We look forward to continuing to create new memories at the Ranch.”
Sally Sigouin told me, “We’ve simply outgrown our Los Olivos spot, and we are able to do so much more at the Ranch.”
The Sigouins launched Kaena in 2001 and first opened for tasting on San Marcos Avenue in 2011, she said — in the site currently occupied by Dreamcote Wine Co.
In 2013, Kaena relocated to its current location on Grand Avenue near the intersection with Alamo Pintado Avenue at the flagpole.
Wine & Fire’s La Paulée Dinner a Sellout
A key element of the annual Wine & Fire weekend, the La Paulée dinner on Friday evening, has already sold out, according to event organizers.
Also sold out is Saturday morning’s Speed Tasting event. As of Monday, tickets remain available for Thursday evening’s kick-off Barn Party at Sanford Winery and for Saturday’s Grand Tasting at La Purisima Mission in Lompoc, although the shuttle service to the latter has sold out.
Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley, founders/owners of Hitching Post Wines, will be recognized as Vintners of the Year at Friday’s La Paulée dinner, which will take place at Babcock Winery.
I reached out to Ostini for his reaction.
“Having made wine here for more than 40 years, we’ve seen the culture of wine become such an important part of lives, and the quality of wine improve each year,” he said.
“We are so honored to be associated with the wonderful winegrowers of the Sta. Rita Hills.”
Every year, Wine & Fire’s La Paulée event recognizes a winemaker as Vintner of the Year. Among the prior winners are Ken Brown, Bryon Babcock, Rick Longoria and Kathy Joseph. While past honorees have been individuals, there’s simply no way to separate the 2024 Vintners of the Year, according to organizers of Wine & Fire.
Hartley and Ostini, both true gentlemen, are among a handful of Santa Barbara County pioneering vintners. The duo started their label in 1979 and helped advocate for the establishment and promotion of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, designated in 2001.
A chance meeting at the Casmalia Hitching Post restaurant in 1977 between Ostini, a chef, and Hartley, a commercial fisherman, led to their long-term partnership and winemaking adventures.
All remaining Wine & Fire tickets can be purchased via staritahills.com/wine-and-fire-2024.
SLO County Wine Industry Honors Local Members
Each year, the San Luis Obispo County wine industry unites to honor members of the community. The awards recognize dedication, stewardship, innovation and leadership.
Honorees were feted Friday at the California Mid-State Fair Mission Square Plaza during the annual fair in Paso Robles.
Awarded were Niels and Bimmer Udsen of Castoro Cellars, Wine Grape Grower of the Year; McPrice Myers, McPrice Myers Wines, Winemaker of the Year; and Molly Scott, JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, Wine Industry Person of the Year.
Recognized with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance was Mike English, developer and proprietor of Tin City.
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, in partnership with the SLO Coast Wine Collective, the Independent Grape Growers of the Paso Robles Area, the Vineyard Team and past award recipients, worked to identify the 2024 winners.
The honorees are evaluated on their leadership and accomplishments in California’s third largest wine region, San Luis Obispo County.