For the most comprehensive information about activities in the Santa Barbara wine country, contact the at www.sbcountywines.com or (805) 688-0881. Although the association offers a great roundup, it's worth contacting your favorite wineries directly to see whether they have special events plann...
For the most comprehensive information about activities in the Santa Barbara wine country, contact the at www.sbcountywines.com or (805) 688-0881. Although the association offers a great roundup, it's worth contacting your favorite wineries directly to see whether they have special events planned. Here is a sampling of some I checked into.
Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard, 1500 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang; (805) 688-3032, www.buttonwoodwinery.com. Buttonwood sponsors an annual concert and picnic, but the star is the All-Buttonwood Farm Dinner, scheduled for Aug. 8. Because Buttonwood is a working farm, the menu features farm-raised pork and lamb, cheese from goats, farm-raised veggies and peaches, along with Buttonwood wines. Tickets cost $100 per person; reservations required.
Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery, 3940 Dominion Road, Santa Maria; (805) 937-9063, www.cottonwoodcanyon.com. From the time of the Vintners' Festival in April through the Harvest Festival in October, Cottonwood Canyon sponsors a monthly "Friday Night Wine Down" on the third Friday of the month, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Live music and a bring-your-own food picnic. Wines are available by the glass or bottle. Cottonwood also puts on dinners every other month or so, pairing wines with various cuisines such as Caribbean barbecue or Southern cooking. A highlight of the year is the annual Christmas in the Caves dinner. More on this year's dinner will be available on the winery's website this fall.
Gainey Vineyard, 3950 E. State Route 246, Santa Ynez; (805) 688-0558, www.gaineyvineyard.com. Annual Crush Party, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26. This includes grape-picking, cooking demonstrations, barrel tasting, a barbecue and more. $85 for the public, $75 for wine club members. Reservations required.
Rideau Vineyard, 1562 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang; (805) 688-0717, www.rideauvineyard.com Rideau is notable for good wines served with Creole food and a side of live jazz and blues. You can partake of all of the above on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. at Rideau's "Friday Night Supper Club" dinners. The next is Aug. 7. $30 for wine club members, $50 for nonmembers. The biggest event of the year is owner Iris Rideau's Birthday Party, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 12, featuring Cajun and Creole specialties. $80; $65 for wine club members.
Roblar Winery & Cooking School, 3010 Roblar Ave., Santa Ynez; (805) 686-2603, www.roblarwinery.com. Saturday cooking classes from 5 to 8 p.m. Upcoming cuisines include French and Indian. Reservations required. $145 per person per class. Roblar also offers a Sunday brunch buffet with wine pairings for $45 per person, or $35 for wine club members.
Sanford Winery & Vineyards, 5010 Santa Rosa Road, Lompoc; (805) 735-5900, www.sanfordwinery.com. Annual open house and barbecue every April, including music and tours of the winery. $15, free for wine club members.
Sunstone Vineyards & Winery, 125 Refugio Road, Santa Ynez; (800) 313-9463, (805) 688-9463, www.sunstone. Most Sunstone events are for wine club members.
The public can linger longer when Sunstone participates in areawide events. The Annual Celebration of Harvest each fall brings together local vintners, restaurants, caterers and other purveyors for a festival of food, wine and music. This year's harvest celebration is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 on the Rancho Sisquoc Winery estate in the Santa Maria Valley. The association also sponsors the
