The Analogue Room has opened in Solvang, spinning together vinyl music, wine and craft beer, and a pizza kitchen — all in one. Consider it a hidden treasure.

Founded by winemaker John Wright, a former preservation architect who specialized in restoring old barns on the East Coast into homes, and later, founder of Buellton’s Standing Sun Wines, the Analogue Room reflects Wright’s lifetime spent creating places with character.

The space that now houses the Analogue Room was vacated by prior tenants last August, and, having closed The Hideaway Lounge in Los Olivos, Wright was on the hunt for something new, he said.

In the year since last August, Wright said he focused all of his energy on the Analogue Room, but with it up and running, he plans to relaunch his concert series at Standing Sun with a performance by Shawn Mullins on Oct. 21.

With his team of two Santa Ynez Valley natives — Blake Economus (behind the bar, with wine and craft beer) and Joe Blanchard (on pizzas and salads) — Wright has a hit on his hands with the Analogue Room.

Amy Dixon of The Baker’s Table provides the focaccia crust, and Blanchard crafts Side Hustle Pizza, a mix of favorites (pepperoni or margherita) and seasonal favorites with farmers market ingredients for both the pizzas and salads.

“The goal is simple food — nothing too complicated,” Wright said.

Down the road, the three hope to curate pizzas with wines for pairing nights.

The Analogue Room’s wines are available by the glass or bottle and are mostly small-lot productions from winemakers without tasting rooms.

“But we also have some names in the mix, such as wines from Brander or Dragonette,” Economus said.

It’s the same with the beer lineup. He prefers small and family-owned labels, but if Coors is your go-to, it’s also available.

At the heart of the Analogue Room is a custom high-fidelity sound system and a vinyl-only music program that celebrates the art of listening.

A rotating lineup of DJs and guest selectors curates the soundtrack, spinning records across every genre, from soul, blues, jazz, funk and rock to hip-hop, house, world music and rare discoveries.

“We found that rotating our DJs meant that each one likes to do more ‘play-throughs’ of the albums,” Wright said.

Guests often bring in their own vinyl, saying, “I’ll leave it here because I’ll listen to it more often.” Or, they simply donate their entire collections to the Analogue Room, Wright said.

“We have a great selection, from old Motown to Johnny Cash, to lots of music from the ’80s,” he said.

Wright designed and crafted every detail, from the warm glow of the backlit bar to the furnishings, creating a space that feels timeless and personal.

General Manager Economus, formerly of Gainey Vineyard, has deep roots in hospitality. He earned a degree in natural resources and tourism from Colorado State University.

The business offers indoor and outdoor seating and windows with bar-style seating on either side. The total number of seats is 62, Wright noted.

Singer-songwriter Mullins (the 1998 single “Lullaby”) will perform at Standing Sun Winery, at 92 Second St. in Buellton, on Oct. 21. Tickets are available here.

The Analogue Room is located at 1693 Mission Drive, Suite 105 in Solvang. Its current hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday. A free parking lot is located behind the Founder’s Square retail complex.

For more information, including details on upcoming DJ nights and private events, visit analogueroom.com/ or follow @analogueroomsyv.

Folded Hills Winery Owners Establish ‘Grapes for Glioblastoma’

Earlier this year, Kim and Andy Busch, co-founders and owners of Folded Hills Winery, Ranch & Farmstand in Buellton, launched “Grapes for Glioblastoma,” a nonprofit organization focused on easing the financial burden on patients and families affected by glioblastoma multiforme (GBM4), the most aggressive form of brain cancer.

The Busches’ initiative is personal. In August 2023, Andy Busch, a polo player and avid swimmer, was diagnosed with glioblastoma after a sudden seizure. His tumor, located deep in the temporal lobe, was deemed inoperable.

Today, three years after his diagnosis, Busch remains active, and his family has channeled its experience into assisting other families.

“At Folded Hills, giving back has always been part of who we are. Grapes for Glioblastoma is the most personal expression of that yet,” Kim Busch said. “No family facing GBM4 should have to carry that weight alone — and every bottle we pour is our way of standing with them.”

Grapes for Glioblastoma provides direct financial assistance to GBM4 patients for the practical costs that follow such a serious diagnosis. Among those are travel to medical centers, lodging, meals, childcare, caregiving support and supplies for the home, such as chair lifts.

The Busches said they were moved to act after witnessing the disparity in care access. They saw patients sitting alone in waiting rooms because they couldn’t afford to bring a family member; caregivers stretched beyond capacity; and families forced to forgo second opinions or specialized treatment because of the cost.

To signify the launch, Folded Hills hosted a special Philanthropy Friday on May 29, during which 100% of all online and in-person proceeds directly benefited Grapes for Glioblastoma. Guests at the tasting room enjoyed live music, food, wine and lawn games, Kim Busch noted in a news release.

While she was unable to provide a specific dollar amount from the May event, a publicist for the Busches did share that “the event marked an important milestone for Grapes to Glioblastoma, and helped build awareness and support for the organization as it continues to grow.”

Since May 1, a “significant portion” of proceeds the sale of every bottle of Fold Hills wine will go directly toward Grapes for Glioblastoma patient grants. 

The organization has already awarded grants to two recipients. Shortly after receiving the grant, one recipient shared: 

“With Grapes for Glioblastoma, there was no drawn-out process. Just compassion and clarity. That kind of provision doesn’t just help financially. It gives breathing room. It steadies your heart. It reminds you — you’re not alone.”

To donate or learn more, visit every.org/grapes-for-glioblastoma, or contact the team at info@grapesforglioblastoma.org.

For more about Folded Hills, visit foldedhills.com or foldedhillswinery.substack.com.