The annual World of Pinot Noir returns to Santa Barbara County for two full days, Friday, March 3, through Saturday, March 4, with a kick-off party Thursday evening, March 2.
The celebration of everything pinot noir will be held at the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort and feature wines from more than 200 top producers from around the world.
There’s a lunch, dinner, tasting, seminar or lecture — or 10 — for every pinot noir aficionado.
The full list of both days’ events can be viewed at https://worldofpinotnoir.com/events/. Please be aware that many events will sell out in advance.
WOPN, a nonprofit trade organization, was established in 2001 by a group of winemakers from California’s Central Coast.
Two younger Santa Barbara County winemakers are looking forward to WOPN for the exposure it offers their labels.
Gretchen Voelcker, winemaker for Piazza Family Wines and her own label, Luna Hart Wines, noted that Piazza is participating at WOPN for the second year.
“I believe that this event was the exposure we have been looking for with Piazza Family Wines. It was a lot of fun to see the evolution of the evening (in 2022), where in the beginning we hardly had anyone stop by, and by the end of the event, we had a line of people all eager to taste the wine due to the buzz of the room,” Voelcker said.
She loves “how serious and passionate everyone is at WOPN.”
She plans to pour a vertical flight of Piazza’s Mt. Carmel Pinot Noir — the 2019, 2020 and the soon-to-be-released 2021.
Kyle Arrowood, who took the winemaking helm at Montemar Wines in 2019, said the family owned label has participated in WOPN since 2015. He learned the craft from his father, Steve Arrowood, who died in April 2020.
“We love this event because it brings all of the best pinot noir producers to one place.”
The seminars and tastings are ideal for both aficionados and “people just getting into pinot noir. You can really search and find your style and meet great people along the way, all in a beautiful setting,” Arrowood said.
He plans to pour Montemar’s 2015 and 2016 vintages.
In addition to joining the grand tasting, Montemar will participate for the first time in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA luncheon seminar.
“We always like being close to the others in our area, seeing familiar faces again and representing the best AVA!”
Information and tickets: https://worldofpinotnoir.com
Daisy Ryan of Bell’s is James Beard Foundation Semi-finalist
Daisy Ryan, co-owner and chef of Bell’s in Los Alamos, is a semi-finalist in the 2023 James Beard Award’s “Best Chefs of California” regional category, according to the James Beard Foundation.
The James Beard Foundation announced 20 semifinalists on Jan. 25. Nominees will be announced on March 29, and the winners will be celebrated June 5 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to celebrate, support and elevate the people behind America’s food culture, and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity and sustainability.
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards were established in 1990 and awarded for the first time the following year.
This category is one of five separate programs. The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including the new award for “Outstanding Bakery.”
Lompoc Valley Restaurant Week Returns Feb. 20-26
The Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the 8th Annual Lompoc Restaurant Week, a celebration of culinary and libation creativity from Monday, Feb. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 26.
Lompoc Restaurant Week will present a lineup of discounted dining options at participating restaurants and tasting rooms — a prix-fixe meal, a two-for-one dining option, a special event or wine/beer flight with pairings – all for $20.23 plus tax and tip.
Information and menus: https://lompoc.com/Restaurant%20Week%202023.pdf
To the north, Santa Maria’s monthlong celebration of food and wine took place from Jan. 13 through Feb. 12.
Lompoc Rotary Hosts 37th Annual Wine Tasting & Auction Feb. 26
One of Santa Barbara County’s most popular wine tasting events will return on Sunday, Feb. 26, when the Lompoc Rotary Club hosts its 37th annual tasting and auction.
Tickets to the event are $75 per person and available at South Side Coffee Company, The Book Store, from Rotary Club members, via www.lompocrotary.com, and at the door.
The event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. at Lompoc’s Veterans Memorial Building, 100 E. Locust Ave. More than 30 wineries, many from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, will participate, as will two local breweries: COLD Coast Brewing Co., and Solvang Brewing Co.
A highlight of the annual event is the live auction, which will feature travel, wine, dining and golf packages.
Several community groups — in particular, the Lompoc Hiking Trails — will be the beneficiaries of this year’s event.
Hitching Post 2 Hosts Jim Clendenen Benefit Tribute Dinner
Jami and Frank Ostini of the Hitching Post 2 in Buellton hosted the Jim Clendenen Tribute Dinner for 110 guests on Feb. 4 as a fundraiser for both Direct Relief and the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast.
Guests traveled from as far away as Boston, Atlanta and Hawaii to honor the late Clendenen, the founder and “Mind Behind” Santa Maria’s Au Bon Climat Winery, who died in May 2021.
The dinner, a memorable tribute to the well-loved vintner, raised a generous sum — $100,000 — for the two key nonprofits while celebrating fine food and wine.
The dinner had been a special lot at the Santa Barbara Wine Auction in November 2022, an event sponsored by the Santa Barbara Vintners Foundation at its biennial black-tie event.
Jim Clendenen launched Au Bon Climat in 1982, and rose in prominence locally and around the globe as he aspired to emulate Burgundy’s culture and wine styles via his own pinot noir and chardonnay.
He became an international ambassador for Santa Barbara County’s wines while traveling the world and, when back in California, mentored many first- and second-generation winemakers.
Clendenen also befriended the best chefs and winemakers worldwide, and built a wine business that still sells across America and the globe — in England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Japan and Korea.
Jim’s two children, Isabelle and Knox, have stepped up to run Au Bon Climat; each travels in the United States and Japan (Knox) to market the label.
Among the other key members of the winery’s team present at the dinner were longtime winemaker Jim Adelman; cellar master Enrique Rodriguez, the winery’s first employee; assistant winemaker Mark Piro, and Michael Meluskey, James Sanders and Randi Chavoya.
Many local winemakers, grape growers and friends of Clendenen during his 40-plus year career shared stories. Among the speakers were Bob and Louisa Lindquist, Doug Margerum, Paul Lato, Brian and Lisa Babcock, Chad Melville, Andrew Murray, Katie Grassini, Matt Murphy, Justin Willett, James Ontiveros, Matt Turrentine, Gary and Jeanne Newman, Chuck and Kathleen Carlson, Chris Brown, Pierre LaBarge, Coby Parker-Garcia, Gary and Teresa Burk, Jessica Gasca, Debra Eagle, Drake Whitcraft, Jessica Stolpman and Gray, Charlotte and Weston Hartley.
A spectacular five-course meal was prepared and served by the Hitching Post staff, and fellow area chefs also contributed various side dishes.
The menu was paired with 10 wines poured from five-liter bottles of Au Bon Climat vintages that spanned four decades – 2020 to 1986. A team of 11 sommeliers served the wines under the leadership of fellow winemakers Bob Lindquist, Margerum and Lato.
Fess Parker’s Grandson Steps into Dual Role for Family Owned Winery
Spencer Shull, grandson of the late Fess Parker Winery founder, Fess Parker, has assumed the dual role of export sales manager and family ambassador.
Representing part of the third generation behind Fess Parker Winery, Shull has been involved in all aspects of the family’s beverage portfolio over the years, including a stint as Colorado state manager for the winery while he lived in Denver.
Shull also worked as sales manager for Third Window Brewing Company in Santa Barbara.
Since 2018, Shull has traveled the United States representing the Parker family at trade and consumer events and enhancing distributor relationships.
With the addition of his new position as export sales manager, Shull’s responsibilities will also include managing the winery’s importer relationships for its growing export business, supporting key accounts, and enhancing brand development.
“I’ve really enjoyed representing the family as the official ambassador over the past few years, traveling to various markets to share everything about our family owned and operated business,” Shull said.