The seventh annual and rebranded Santa Barbara County Women Winemakers and Culinarians Celebration will return with five days of events starting Wednesday, March 6 and will culminate in a Grand Tasting Saturday and a bubbles brunch Sunday.
Saturday’s tasting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. has already sold out, but there’s an available wait list, according to winemaker Karen Steinwachs, co-founder of 2017’s original Women Winemakers event.
In addition to Saturday’s Grand Tasting, the Women Winemakers and Culinarians Celebration this year will include five evening events (two each Wednesday and Thursday and one on Friday) and Sunday’s brunch.
Tickets remain available for all six of the events, and are available either at SBWomenWinemakers.com or via designated links for specific events (noted below).
All told, 34 female winemakers and 17 culinarians are scheduled to participate in this year’s multiday event. New this year are logo glasses and lots of merchandise, including hats, T-shirts and more.
Celebrated worldwide since 1909, International Women’s Day focuses on working women’s achievements and issues. Santa Barbara County continues to see a much higher percentage of women winemakers than the world average (which is just 10%).
Saturday’s tasting at 27 Vines outside Santa Ynez will feature more than 30 women winemakers, all in honor of International Women’s Day. Also participating will be more than one dozen female chefs, bakers and food crafters. Also returning to this year’s event will be the popular “Estrogen Collection” wine bottle opportunity drawing.
The owners of 27 Vines donated their property for the event as well as a service to shuttle guests to and from the venue, Steinwachs said.
The full list of participating winemakers and chefs is available on the main website, SBWomenWinemakers.com.
“What really warms my heart is that everyone — from all the winemakers, chefs, the host wineries and vineyards and those photographing, singing and making us laugh — ALL donate their goods, services and mostly time,” Steinwachs said. “While we hope that each get recognition from guests, the real joy is lending a helping hand to others in our community.”
Each year, the Grand Tasting benefits a regional nonprofit organization, and funds from the 2024 event will go to She Raised Her Hand, a new initiative that provides opportunities for women veterans to find community, purpose and strength in their identity.
“There’s a growing percentage of women joining the military,” Steinwachs said.
Other events leading up to Saturday’s Grand Tasting will feature either one or two winemakers at a specific restaurant, or several winemakers.
Wednesday will feature a dinner by Camins 2 Dreams at Peasants FEAST and on Thursday there is a dinner by Dana V. Wines at Clean Slate. Both restaurants are in Solvang.
Thursday at the Bodega in Los Alamos will be winemakers and wines from Amevive, A Tribute to Grace, Camins 2 Dreams, Loubud, Est-Oueste and Eislynn.
Also Thursday will be the winemakers from Dreamcote, Luna Hart, Future Perfect, Seagrape and Story of Soil, who will pair their wines with plates cooked by Brooke Stockwell, executive chef at the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café.
A portion of proceeds from each of the dinners will be donated to various nonprofit beneficiaries.
On Friday, March 8, organizers invite guests to dress their best for Sips and She-Nanigans — a Sassy Soirée at Fess Parker Winery to celebrate the “wind beneath the wings” — the women who make winemakers and chefs shine. They are the sous chefs, assistant winemakers, viticulturists, farmers, winery and restaurant owners, and will be the focus for the evening. The time will be 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Click here for more information, and click here for tickets.
The emcee will be Anna Vocino, a local resident, food blogger, comic and voice-over actor who will also lead a panel discussion of the varied, featured women in these industries.
“Sips” will kick off with “Fesstivity” sparkling wines in the winery’s fireplace room and move into the barrel room for a silent auction, bites from Sassafras Catering and the evening’s program.
Entertaining guests along with Vocino (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Snapped: Killer Couples”) will be Jessica Keenan (HBO’s “Entre Nos”) and Mav Viola (Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring and the upcoming “Netflix Is a Joke”).
The final event of this year’s Women Winemakers & Culinarians Celebration will be Sunday’s “Bubbly Brunch,” created by Rhoda Magbitang, executive chef at Mattei’s Tavern.
The brunch will kick off with sparkling and “breakfast” wines and transition into a brunch paired with white, rose and red wines from the winemakers at Alma Rosa, Amber Rose Wines, Future Perfect, Kunin Wines, Loubud, Luna Hart, Seagrape Wine Co. and more.