Iris Duplantier Rideau, 84, the first Black winery owner in the United States, was awarded the prestigious “Pioneer and Legend Award” at the Atlanta Hue Society’s Roses and Rosé Awards Brunch as part of its late August Wine and Culture Fest.
The festival was conceptualized by Hue Society founder and sommelier, Tahiirah Habibi.
Born in 1936 in New Orleans, Rideau founded Rideau Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley in the early 1990s.
A Rhone-inspired house with an estate vineyard, among Rideau’s wines were a syrah, grenache, roussanne and marsanne.
Even though Rideau sold her namesake vineyard and winery in 2016, it remains located in an historic adobe built in the late 1880s.
Today, Rideau is busy promoting her memoir, “One Life Between Two Worlds: From White to Black.”
In it, Rideau chronicles her childhood in Depression-era New Orleans, through her exodus from Jim Crow South to her early years as a single mother in Los Angeles, to her illustrious career in the world of Los Angeles politics and finance.
Solvang’s Coast Range Announces New Menu, Reservation System
One of the Santa Ynez Valley’s hottest new eateries, Coast Range, will open its indoor dining room Sept. 24 with a new menu.
On Sept. 17, the restaurant’s reservation went live for reservations, and the first available reserved seats are on Sept. 24.
(Jeremy Ball / Bottle Branding photo)
Since its opening in April, the restaurant has seen a surge of dinners, many who have waited for tables during dinner hours.
The new Coast Range & Vaquero Bar lunch menu will be slightly different and resemble what the team of chef/owners have utilized prior to the opening of the indoor dining room.
Reservations are now available for seating via https://www.coastrange.restaurant/.
Coast Range is located at 1635 Mission Dr. (the old Mandarian Touch restaurant). Hours are lunch, noon to 4 p.m.; dinner, 5 to 10 p.m.; and Vaquero Bar, noon to midnight, Thursday through Monday. The restaurant is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Gleason Family Vineyards Announces Peter Cham as Executive Chef
Chef Peter Cham has joined the Gleason Family Vineyards portfolio (Roblar Winery and Vineyards, Refugio Ranch Vineyards and Royal Oaks Wines) as executive chef and head of culinary operations.
As part of the Roblar Winery and Vineyards’ array of hospitality and private events, Chef Cham is crafting seasonal bites menus utilizing fresh produce and herbs grown just steps away on the property’s organic Roblar Farm.
Guests will find various plates, among them smoked salmon deviled eggs with pickled shallots, crispy capers, chives and espelette peppers; wood-fired wild mushroom pizza with confit garlic and kale pesto; or charred Roblar Farm broccoli with bagna càuda, grilled lemon, parmesan and aleppo pepper.
These bites will be available Friday through Sunday alongside Roblar’s selection of wines.
(Gleason Family Vineyards photo )
Also new is the winery’s Thursday “Birds ‘n’ Bubbles,” which will feature Chef Cham’s famous fried chicken along Roblar sparkling Blanc de Blanc, as well as brunch, available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday.
A Santa Barbara native, Cham was raised in a Cambodian household that embraced food as a way to unite family. In 2006, he headed to San Francisco to study and explore the culinary arts, landing work at Radius Restaurant & Café, a food business in tune with his own kitchen ethos. Three years into his time with Radius, Cham became executive chef. In order bolster his skillset, he also trained at other legendary and Michelin starred San Francisco establishments such as Coi Restaurant, Quince, and Fifth Floor.
In 2016, Chef Cham moved to Finch & Fork restaurant at Santa Barbara’s Kimpton Canary Hotel, where he started as executive sous chef and eventually became executive chef.
In addition to his culinary work, Cham is an avid outdoorsman and cycling enthusiast. As a longtime participant in “Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry,” he has raised more than $50,000 to help end child hunger.
Roblar Winery and Vineyards is located at 3010 Roblar Ave., where Roblar and Highway 154 meet. The tasting room is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for tasting; reservations are required.
The winemaker is Max Marshak, and the assistant winemaker, Kat Neenan.
Tavern at Zaca Creek to Celebrate Bourbon During Weekend Event
The Tavern at Zaca Creek in Buellton will continue its inaugural “Bourbon Heritage Month” celebration this month with tastings on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25. Featured will be Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and Baker’s bourbons.
The weekend will consist of varying packages that include tastings, seminars, cocktails and/or dinners, and a special overnight rate of $200 per guest for both nights will apply.
On Friday, Sept. 24, the tasting and seminar take place from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by dinner in the tavern. Cost: $125 per person.
On Saturday night, the Kentucky Bluegrass cocktail hour at the Falls will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Cost: $95 per person. All fees do not include tax or gratuity.
For reservations or information, call 805.688.2412, or email info@zaca-creek.com.
— Laurie Jervis tweets at @lauriejervis and can be reached via winecountrywriter@gmail.com. The opinions expressed are her own.