Erik and Amber Mallea
The Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, is pleased to announce they are resuming their “Friday Night Winemakers” series for 2017.
Vintner and winemaker Erik Mallea of “Mallea Wines” will be chatting with guests and offering samples of his wines, those which he feels would pair perfectly with the meal, during the dinner hours of 5 – 8 p.m. on Friday, January 27.
Be sure to ask your knowledgeable waiter about the specials for the evening as Chef Chris Joslyn will be pairing them with Mallea wines. The informal and friendly atmosphere at the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café is the perfect place to learn more about this special winemaker while enjoying the fresh local dishes from the Los Olivos Café’s menu.
Erik Mallea is the vineyard manager for Sanford Winery nestled in the Sta. Rita Hills between Buellton and Lompoc. Mallea is originally from a farming family in northwestern Minnesota, and he majored in Biology and Geology at Oberlin College before going west to work in vineyards and wineries. Before starting to work at Sanford in 2009, Mallea worked for producers in Oregon, New Zealand, and California’s Central Valley. He and his wife, Amber, have been hand-crafting their own wines since 2008 and their first commercial releases came in 2015.
Mallea enjoys using a more traditional winemaking model, which focuses on sustainable winegrowing. Mallea Wines leases and farms the small vineyard parcels they produce wine from, with the bulk of the work done by hand. Currently Mallea Wines produces several varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Sauvignon blanc. He is looking forward to this Friday Night Winemaker event to share the Mallea wines with guests of the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café.
The experience and tastes are only for guests who are dining at the Café. No reservations or cost are required to taste the Mallea wines. However, dinner reservations are strongly recommended so that diners can be sure to enjoy the full experience. For more information or reservations: 805-688-7265 or www.winemerchantcafe.com. They are located at 2879 Grand Ave, Los Olivos.
