The seventh annual Women Winemakers and Culinarians Celebration, which morphed this year from one day to several events running from March 6-10, was by most accounts a rousing success.
Seagrape Cellars winemaker Karen Steinwachs, co-founder with Brooke Stockwell, executive chef at the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, did not have final figures earlier this week, although she expected the total to “well exceed” the $15,000 raised in 2023.
As in past years, a portion of funds raised from this year’s multiday celebration will benefit a local nonprofit organization. The beneficiary of this year’s event is She Raised Her Hand, a newer initiative that provides opportunities for women veterans to find community, purpose and strength in their identity.
All told, 34 female winemakers and 17 culinarians participated in this year’s celebration. New this year were logo glasses and lots of merchandise, including hats, T-shirts and more. Dinners with single or multiple winemakers took place at various restaurants, a “soiree” was held at Fess Parker Winery, and Saturday’s grand tasting was followed by a Sunday “bubbles” brunch at Mattei’s Tavern.
The owners of 27 Vines in Santa Ynez donated their property for the event, as well as a bus service to shuttle guests to and from the venue, Steinwachs said.
Saunters & Sips Returning to Santa Barbara
Taste the maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at the Chase Palm Park Carousel House in Santa Barbara — coincidentally, right by the ocean.
Saunters & Sips is the first of two annual events produced by the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance. The second is Wine & Fire, which this year will take place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 15-18.
The Carousel House is located at 223 E. Cabrillo Blvd.
Tickets for Saunters & Sips are $129 per person (plus a handling fee of $6.56) and available online at staritahills.com/events.
Santa Barbara County is home to a diverse range of world-class wines from grapes grown in its seven AVAs (American Viticultural Areas). The unique transverse valleys run west to east, with the sub AVA, Sta. Rita Hills, covering the Santa Rita and La Purisima hills at the western edge of the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA.
From the tops of Sta. Rita Hills’ vineyards, one can see the Pacific Ocean. Each property welcomes ocean fog and daily breezes that moderate the climate — and create what is called “terroir.”
Along with its companion AVAs, the Sta. Rita Hills attracts industry experts and writers, as well as tourists from around the world.
Light bites will include stations with Thai food and empanadas, and a barbecue slider station presented by High on the Hog Catering and Buena Onda. Live music will be performed by the Down Yonders.
Matt Kettmann of the Santa Barbara Independent and Wine Enthusiast will moderate two Sips Sessions.
The first, at 3 p.m., will focus on the region’s alternative wines, and the second, at 4 p.m., will focus on the 2021 vintage of pinot noir.
Among the wineries participating are Alma Rosa Winery, Ampelos, Babcock Winery, Barden, Caella Wines, Civilization Wine Company, Crosshatch Winery, Cotiere, Donnachadh Family Wines, Dusty Nabor Wines, Fess Parker Winery, Fiddlehead Cellars, Flying Goat Cellars, Foley Family Wines, Foxen Winery, Gainey Estate Vineyards, Evans Ranch Estate Vineyards, Hitching Post Wines, Holus Bolus and The Joy Fantastic, Ken Brown Wines, Liquid Farm, Lompoc Wine Factory, Lincourt Winery, Longoria Wines, LouBud Wines, Montemar Wines, Peake Ranch Winery, Pali Wine Co., SAMsARA, Sandhi Wines, Sanford Winery and Vineyards, Seagrape Wine Company, Sweetzer Cellars, Summerland Winery, Temperance Cellars, Tercero, the Hilt Estate, Tomi Cellars and Windrun Wine Co.