Wine lovers looking for vintages off the beaten path had plenty of small-production wines to sample in Solvang on Feb. 8, as the Veterans Memorial Hall hosted the 11th annual Garagiste Wine Festival: Southern Exposure.

The event had 31 wineries set up inside the building, all of which offer the best of limited-production wines on the Central Coast.

The Garagiste Festival premiered in Paso Robles in 2011 and is the only wine festival that exclusively features high-quality wines from commercial California “garagiste” winemakers. Unlike other festivals, the wines are poured by the winemakers/owners themselves, offering a rare opportunity to interact with the creative forces behind the wines, while making brand new wine discoveries. The festival expanded to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2013 to highlight the wines of Santa Barbara County and surrounding AVAs, as well as small production wineries from across California.

With that all set up at the Veterans Memorial Hall, wine connoisseurs got to get face-to-face with many small winemakers explaining their creations.

Like BeckersChild Wines, which has found popularity with its Black Widow vintage.

“We have experimented with many varietals, but this Black Widow is our most profitable right now,” said co-owner Greg Becker, who talked about his how he came up with his creation. “It came to the point I hit something that made it silky smooth; the material I use to make it almost has the texture of a Fruit Roll-Up”

Also on hand was Kristin Fione, founder of Adarato Wines. Fione along with many of the other vintners in the building, does her wine business as a side gig.

“I work in the entertainment business, so a small-production operation like this is perfect for me,” she said.

Growing up outside Philadelphia, Fione eventually made her way to California, and then developing a passion for winemaking. She appreciates the chance to come to events like these.

“It’s just a chance to try small wines, and compare the different tastes,” she said. “It’s an amazing source, and I get a great reception when I come out here. And I like to show everyone that Central Coast wines are the best.”

Another winemaker at the festival represents Solvang, as she just opened a tasting room in town. Anna Lancucki runs Final Girl Wines along with her husband Peter. Although she said she was inspired by the Meg Ryan rom-com “French Kiss” to become a winemaker, it’s the couples love of horror movies that brings the winery products their theme.

“We just love the horror movies, and in each one there’s always one girl remaining who fights the bad guy and survives, so we named the company ‘Final Girl,'” said Anna, who was wearing a T-shirt of the movie “Scream.” “It’s just our way to keep it fun; I like to take out the pretentiousness and make it less serious.”

That sense played out at the Final Girl table which included a skull candle and all sorts of other horror memorabilia.

Although, it was a wine festival, there were other kinds of vendors also, like Shaana Rahman, who was selling her Boccabella Olive Oil from her San Miguel farm.

“We visited San Miguel and saw the farm, and I decided we had to move there and buy the farm,” said Rahman, who owns the business with her husband Johnny Jantz. “Making the olive oil is a lot like winemaking. You’re taking things off the vine and making a delicious product out of it.”

Also, at the festival was Mira Honeycutt, the wine columnist from the Santa Ynez Valley Star’s sister publications in Paso Robles. Her and her husband Kirk Honeycutt have authored a book, “Sideways Uncorked,” about the making of the memorable movie that spotlighted the Valley’s wine scene.

Wineries participating in this year’s Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure included Absolution Cellars, Adorato Wines, Beckerschild Wines, Bocce Ball Wines, Cote of Paint Wine, Decemil Estate Wines, Detente Wines, Diablo Paso, Dusty Nabor Wines, El Vinero Wines, End of the Day Wines, Etnyre Wines, Exprimere Wines, Final Girl Wines, Fuil Wines, Kaleidos Wines, Mastro Scheidt, MCV Wines, Montagne Russe, Pars Fortuna Wine, RF Fine Wines, Sapien Wines, Slouch Hat Wines, Stiekema Wine Co., Sycamore Ranch, Tabalipa Wine Co., Tomi Cellars, Trois Le Fou, Vigo Cellars, Winespread Panic Cellars, and Zanoli Wines.

The Solvang stop is the first for the Garagiste Festival in 2025. Organizers have scheduled events for April (in Sonoma), June (in Los Angeles), and November (in Paso Robles). For more information on the festival, and its 2025 schedule, go to garagistefestival.com.

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Staff Report 

Sunstone Winery, Santa Barbara County’s most visited vineyard estate, announced the addition of Neil Redmond as general manager and John Price to the Sunstone Board of Directors. 

COO Dave Moser will take on the expanded role of chief marketing & operations officer. These strategic appointments come as Sunstone embarks upon a major expansion including a rooftop tasting lounge in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.

“It’s an exciting time for Sunstone as we continue to build our lifestyle brand and expand our physical footprint,” says Sunstone CEO Djamila Cabugos. “With Dave’s continued leadership and the addition of John and Neil’s expertise, I couldn’t be more excited for Sunstone’s future.”

Redmond joins Sunstone from Beckmen Vineyards, where he spent the last 12 years in various roles, including most recently as tasting room sales & education manager. As general manager, Redmond will oversee Sunstone’s robust direct-to-consumer (DTC) and hospitality business, including the county’s busiest tasting room and the world-renowned Sunstone Villa.  

“Neil’s passion for wine and people is infectious,” Moser said.  “We’re excited to have Neil leading our frontline team. His leadership will be instrumental in helping us grow the Sunstone brand and ensuring we continue to offer a world-class customer experience.”

Price is the founder and owner of Santa Barbara-based commercial real estate development firm Price Management, which owns the Villas at Olive Mill in Montecito and The Point Market chain of gas stations and car washes.  

“John is a powerful addition to our team,” says Sunstone President Teddy Cabugos, “His strategic relationships and diverse business experience will play an invaluable role in Sunstone’s growth plans.”

Moser joined Sunstone in 2018 and has served in various roles, including chief operating officer, general manager, and director of sales & marketing. A digital marketing expert by trade, Moser spent the first half of his career helping Fortune 500 companies build their businesses online before dedicating the rest of his career to his passion for wine. In his expanded role, Moser will continue to oversee Sunstone’s overall operations while shifting his primary focus toward marketing, growth initiatives, strategic projects and product development.

In addition to Price, Sunstone’s Board of Directors includes Teddy and Djamila Cabugos, Moser and Sunstone founder Fred Rice. 

Founded in 1990 as the first organic vineyard in Santa Barbara County, Sunstone Winery is considered to be one of the most visually stunning winery estates in California. Learn more at www.sunstonewinery.com.

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Contributing Writer

The wine industry in Santa Barbara County and beyond is expected to rebound once the COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictions on tasting are lifted and consumers can once again mingle in groups, according to a new report.

Silicon Valley Bank on Wednesday released its annual “State of the Wine Industry Report,” which assesses the California and national wine industry and offers a forecast for the new year based on economic and behavioral trends.

Rob McMillan, executive vice president and founder of SVB’s Wine Division and author of the report, paired its release with a videocast Wednesday morning. McMillan moderated a panel that included Amy Hoopes, president of Wente Family Estates; Devin Joshua, managing director of Merryvale Vineyards; Erik McLaughlin, CEO of Metis; and Paul Mabray, CEO of Pix.wine.

McMillan welcomed videocast participants from around the globe by noting that “people do want their wine” even during COVID-19-induced restrictions. He likened early pandemic toilet paper sales with those of wine — consumers didn’t necessarily need more toilet paper; they simply wanted to be sure of an ample supply.

“The year 2021 will be a year of two phases for the wine industry: the continuation of a COVID-restricted mode during the first part of the year, followed by a gradual reopening of businesses and a resurgence in hospitality, travel and entertainment made possible by the success of widespread vaccinations,” McMillan said.

Currently, we are limited by the lack of vaccines, which he calls “the gate” consumers must jump before life returns to any sense of “normal.”

The panelists agreed that the pandemic hit hardest on direct-to-consumer (DTC) and tasting room sales. Wineries that enabled or boosted online sales were able to retain wine club members and remain relatively stable.

In 2020, “we saw an acceleration in e-commerce, which displayed 10 years worth of growth during a three-month period,” Hoopes said. “The onus is on wineries to continue that trend.”

The report predicts that wine retailers with “existing e-commerce strategies will have a strong 2021. Further, online sales could represent 20% of an average winery’s sales within five years.”

Another panel consensus was the need for wineries to migrate customers’ data to strengthen businesses relationships, especially with wine club members.

“Data has lots of return investment for wineries,” Mabray noted, adding that “retention is the new acquisition (of club members).”

Sales to wine club members — regularly viewed by small and large wineries as their “bread and butter” — boosted sales during the pandemic.

“We got through 2020 because of consumer loyalty,” said McLaughlin, who is based in the Northwest.

Washington, and especially Oregon, suffered grape crop losses or damage because of wildland fires and smoke.

“Washington saw its smallest crop in 10 years,” McLaughlin said. “I cannot imagine a worse year to be an Oregon or Washington grape grower.” In California, Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties, growers suffered similar fates.

That said, lower yields helped level out 2020, which opened with a glut of grapes, and viticulturists watched the excess melt away by year’s end.

The SVB forecasts that California will have crushed 3.3 million tons last year — the smallest harvest since 2011. However, a large harvest in 2021 could return the state’s industry to a position of oversupply once again, McMillan said.

Restaurants that survived the pandemic will require investment for new revenue-generating strategies. Wines sold through restaurants will not recover to pre-COVID-19 levels in 2021, nor for many years.

Founded in 1994, SVB’s Wine Division offers financial services and strategic advice to premium vineyards and wineries. With one of the largest banking teams in the country dedicated to the wine industry, SVB’s Wine Division has offices in Napa, Sonoma and Portland, and primarily serves clients in the fine-wine producing regions along the West Coast of the United States. Go to https://www.svb.com/industry-solutions/premium-wine-banking for more information.

Laurie Jervis tweets at @lauriejervis and can be reached via winecountrywriter@gmail.com. 

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The Fess Parker family announced that its estate vineyard, Rodney’s, has been recognized by third-party certifier Sustainability in Practice (SIP) for meeting rigorous standards of environmental protection and preservation. The announcement comes at the end of the 20th anniversary for the family’s Epiphany label, which sources much of the fruit for its wines from Rodney’s Vineyard.

“As a family owned and operated business, good stewardship of our natural resources is embedded in everything we do,” says Eli Parker, owner. “When we launched Epiphany 20 years ago, it was a celebration of the grapes from our family estate – Rhone varietals that thrived in the microclimate of Foxen Canyon – so becoming SIP Certified feels like a great way to honor our original vision.”

SIP Certified is a rigorous sustainable vineyard, winery and wine certification with strict, non-negotiable standards based on science and expert input, independent verification, transparency and absence of conflict of interest. Certification addresses the 3 P’s of Sustainability – People, Planet, Prosperity – ensuring that both natural and human resources are protected. Meeting the standards requires a measurable, holistic set of practices addressing habitat, water, energy, soil, recycling, air quality, packaging, pest management, social equity and business management.

“Achievements such as SIP Certified are fantastic recognition of what that stewardship means not just to our customers, but to our suppliers and staff as well,” adds owner Ashley Parker-Snider. “After more than 30 years on the home ranch in Los Olivos, we welcome the opportunity to celebrate what sustainability in practice looks like for the long term.”

The multiyear certification initiative was led by winery president Tim Snider, head winemaker Blair Fox and associate winemaker Tyler Eck. The winemaking team, together with Coastal Vineyard Care, pursued best practices that earned the SIP Certified seal of approval:

Irrigation is only applied based on the needs of the vines as determined by visual inspection as well as soil and plant-based monitoring sensors.

The biological health of the soil is cultivated by introducing beneficial ground cover to deliver nutrients naturally. Natural soil management prevents erosion, restores nutrients and reduces need for human intervention.

On Rodney’s Vineyard, owl boxes are placed throughout the vineyards to promote biodiversity and so that the owls will hunt the gophers and ground squirrels that damage the vines by eating their roots.

In addition to providing safe and fair working conditions, Fess Parker Winery is proud to offer competitive employee wages and benefits, including a profit-sharing program distributed across all divisions of the organization.

The winery is also committed to the team’s professional growth, with development opportunities from “tailgate meetings” on the vineyard to certifications through GuildSomm and the Court of Master Sommeliers.

“SIP Certified represents how it all comes together for us under the Fess Parker family portfolio,” says Snider. “We are committed to making the best wines we can, for as long as we can – and as a generational business, that means thinking about our natural resources generationally, as well.”

To learn more about the Fess Parker family’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.fessparker.com/Winery/Sustainability.

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Royce Rutledge Lewellen, a lifelong Santa Barbara County community leader and the man for whom the Santa Maria courthouse complex is named, has died.

He passed away Sept. 2, 2020, at the age of 89 in Santa Barbara, California.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, but raised in Jefferson City, Lewellen graduated from the University of Missouri and UC Berkeley School of Law.

A retired Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge, businessman, vintner and philanthropist, those who knew him say his impact on the community was beyond measure. 

“He brought people together. He was a great judge not only because of his fine mind and superior intellect, but because he was humble and genuinely loved his fellow man, and it showed in everything he did,” said James Herman, current Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge.

To honor him, in 1992 the courthouse complex in Santa Maria was officially named The Lewellen Justice Center. 

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Contributing Writer

The Santa Barbara Vintners took its case for an assessment fee on tasting room wine sales to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, and the county recommended that the association continue its plans for a petition and vote later this year.

The proposed assessment would be a 1.5 percent fee per each bottle sold in tasting rooms and wineries throughout Santa Barbara County, or a “subset” of a brand’s total sales.

It would also be assessed on tasting fees, merchandise and food, but not on wine club shipments and pickups or event tickets. The fee would not be assessed on online, phone or wholesale sales to groceries or restaurants.

It would essentially be a wine industry-specific business improvement district, and is also called a wine preserve in other areas.

Santa Barbara Vintners CEO Alison Laslett initiated plans for the Santa Barbara Wine Preserve in 2018, and says the assessment would boost the group’s efforts to market Santa Barbara County as a wine tourism destination, a status already enjoyed by Paso Robles, Napa and Sonoma counties, and Temecula.

A majority (51 percent) of the bonded wineries in Santa Barbara County needs to approve the proposed assessment to create the Santa Barbara Wine Preserve, which then would need final approval from the Board of Supervisors, according to Laslett.

Between now and the end of 2020, the Santa Barbara Vintners will draft a petition for winemakers and hold public hearings throughout the county, she said.

Other California wine regions have larger operating budgets (Paso Robles has about $1.5 million and Napa is about $7.2 million), and the assessment funding could increase the group’s annual budget to more than $1.6 million, about three times what it is now, according to the SBV presentation.

Among the services the Santa Barbara Wine Preserve would provide to wineries are marketing, special projects, community organization and promoting the Santa Barbara County wine region to tourists. Marketing represents 62 percent of the proposed five-year budget, according to Santa Barbara Vintners.

While the supervisors generally supported the proposal during Tuesday’s informational presentation and discussion, they expressed concern over how the assessed fees would be verified and collected.

“We would prefer to do something” to help the wine industry grow, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said.

Supervisor Joan Hartmann, whose Third District contains the bulk of the county’s wineries and vineyards, agreed with the SBV that “we lack cohesive marketing here, and this would help market Santa Barbara County as a region.”

Photo contributed

Some wineries and winemakers support the proposed assessment, but there is a robust group of opponents, Laslett said. Two of those winery owners spoke during public comment Tuesday.

David deLaski, co-owner/winemaker of Solminer Wines with his wife, Anna, cited “a lack of major support among wineries” for the Santa Barbara Wine Preserve, since “75 percent of the wineries here in Santa Barbara County (already) are not members of the SBV.”

By various accounts, there are about 270 bonded wineries/winemakers in Santa Barbara County.

“I don’t really need a welcome center; our customers have the Internet,” deLaski said.

Steve Pepe, co-owner of Clos Pepe Estate Vineyards, echoed deLaski’s concerns, noting in a letter to the supervisors that “in its 40 years of existence, the SBV has never attracted a substantial majority of the SB wineries to become members. Similarly, it has been able to raise only $500,000 each year,” he wrote, referring to the fees paid by current association members.

Lending their support to the Santa Barbara Wine Preserve were Stephen Janes, estate manager at Pence Vineyards and a member of the Preserve Steering Committee; Tyler Thomas, president and winemaker of Dierberg and Star Lane vineyards; Karen Steinwachs, general manager and winemaker at Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard; and Nicholas Miller of Miller Family Wines.

All described the need to infuse Santa Barbara County’s wine region with marketing funds so that wineries can flourish, especially in the time of decreased sales because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Janes called on Santa Barbara County’s wine region to “grow up” and secure funding in order to better promote itself.

“(The SBV’s) board of directors has decades of industry experience, and without (the Santa Barbara Wine Preserve), Santa Barbara County will languish and not reach its full potential,” he said.

Thomas, who relocated to Santa Barbara County from Napa several years ago, described himself as, “quite frankly, appalled at how underfunded the SBV organization was.”

Steinwachs said she doubts wine consumers will balk at paying an assessment fee.

“We at Buttonwood support the Preserve, especially now (COVID) with the lack of sales from direct-to-consumer business,” she said. “There is no other alternative.”

Miller, whose family farms two regional vineyards, produces multiple wine brands, and operates two tasting rooms and a Santa Maria production facility, described how some visitors to his Santa Barbara tasting room “have never heard” about the county’s wine industry because of the lack of funds to promote it.

“This (step) should be part of the efforts to rebuild our region in the wake of COVID,” Miller said. “I want to heavily reiterate that we fully support moving forward.”

Laslett said she understands that some people “are philosophically opposed to any fee assessment,” and some winemakers “may fear they will lose customers to the assessment,” especially in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions on direct-to-consumer sales.

However, in the long run, Laslett believes that the benefits “will far outweigh the cost of the assessment.”

She used the example of an average bottle of Santa Barbara County wine priced “between $35 and $40,” the sale of which would then yield an assessment of approximately 60 cents.

— Laurie Jervis is a Noozhawk contributing writer and columnist. She tweets at @lauriejervis and can be reached via winecountrywriter@gmail.com.

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Bob and Barb Zorich, proprietors of Alma Rosa Winery, are pleased to announce that winery founder Richard Sanford was named 2020 Vintner of the Year by the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance. 

Wine author, expert and critic Matt Kettman led a live online tribute and tasting featuring conversations with Sanford and several surprise guests paying tribute to Richard’s lifetime dedication to the Sta. Rita Hills on Aug. 11. 

A living legend in the world of California wine and commonly referred to as the “Godfather of Central Coast Pinot Noir,” Sanford planted the first pinot noir vineyard on the Central Coast in 1971 at the Sanford & Benedict vineyard, and has lived and worked in the Sta. Rita Hills, a region he helped create, for nearly five decades.

A geographer by trade, Sanford identified the unique transverse mountain range near Santa Barbara, where the valleys run east to west and open to the sea, as an optimal area to plant grapes. With the knowledge that the climate of coastal California is largely determined by proximity to the ocean, he surveyed these unique valleys very carefully. “When you drive to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, you are actually driving west,” Sanford said. “Even though Santa Barbara sits on a similar latitude to Tunisia, it is the fog and ocean air that tempers the heat of the sun’s rays. It is ‘refrigerated sunlight.’ This, along with complex and well-drained soils, has proven the Sta. Rita Hills to be one of the greatest places to plant pinot noir and chardonnay in the world.”

Richard made estate-grown pinot noirs at the Sanford & Benedict vineyard from 1976 through 1980. In 1981, he launched Sanford Winery with his wife Thekla, and there they produced category-defining wines of local and international acclaim for over 25 years. During this time, Richard established and planted many of the Sta. Rita Hills’ most revered sites, including La Rinconada, La Encantada and Alma Rosa’s current estate, El Jabali, which was originally planted in 1983. Sanford Winery became one of Santa Barbara County’s most iconic wineries, helping to establish the region as a wine country travel destination.

In 2005 Richard and Thekla founded Alma Rosa, which they sold to Bob and Barb Zorich in 2014. Richard continues to live at the Alma Rosa estate, where he serves as a winery ambassador and continues to be active as one of the leading advocates for the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. 

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Reports of a man was critically injured Tuesday, April 14, in a fall from a horse at Hollister Ranch, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

In a Facebook message to followers, Keith Saarloos of Saarloos and Sons in Los Olivos, confirmed the man was their patriarch Larry Saarloos. 

“What my father needs now are prayers for his body, the medical staff taking care of him, and peaceful spirit. We wish we were in the room holding his hands, and strength in our helplessness,” Saarloos said. 

Shortly after 11 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to the ranch on the Gaviota Coast, where a man in his 70’s had fallen from the horse and tumbled about 100 yards down a ravine, said fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli.

His son said that after being stabilized at Cottage Hospital, Saarloos was then air lifted to UCLA where he was being treated for a neck injury. He later updated that his father cannot feel anything from the waist down, and is recovering after a five-hour surgery. 

The Saarloos family came to the Santa Ynez Valley in the late 1990’s when they purchased The Roasted Bean coffee shop in Santa Ynez (now known as Pony Espresso). They settled in Los Olivos and started a vineyard, growing grapes for local vintners and then started their own label Saarloos and Sons, opening a tasting room at the end of Grand Avenue. The elder Saarloos is active in the horse community, being a member of several riding groups such as the Valley Penning Association and a member of the Rancheros Visitadores. 

His son is asking that anyone who wants to send him a video messages to Get Well Soon can use this link. 

“We all need to remind him of his value and purpose. It will only take you a minute to film and submit your video.
What he needs now is encouragement from you,” Keith Saarloos said. 

The Star also sends well wishes to the Saarloos family and a safe recovery. 

Check back for updates to this story. 

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In the midst of a global pandemic, Santa Barbara County wineries are taking concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19) seriously. 

Emails from wineries assure customers they are taking extra steps in their tasting rooms to prevent the spread of illness. From providing extra hand sanitizer and thoroughly sanitizing their surroundings to ensuring sick employees stay home, tasting rooms are optimistic they will remain open while still following recommended COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Santa Barbara Vintners CEO Alison Laslett notes that wine tasting is not an inherently crowded activity 

“Most of our tasting rooms have ample space to spread out and our local wineries are able to follow the CDC’s recommendations without closing up shop,” she said.

Some California residents are avoiding local and long-distance travel and opting to stay home.

“For those customers that are not comfortable leaving home, many wineries are offering shipping deals online and nearly all wineries will ship direct to California residents,” Laslett said. “In urban areas, customers have been able to order wines to be delivered via grocery and alcohol delivery services.”

Santa Barbara Vintners has also decided to postpone the 2020 Santa Barbara Vintners Festival. Originally scheduled for May 2, the festival will now be held on Saturday, Oct 10 at Rancho Sisquoc Winery in the Santa Maria Valley from 1 to 4 p.m. with early admission at noon. Wineries are also cancelling or postponing larger events such as pickup parties per California’s recent directive to cancel any event with more than 250 people. 

“It is our social responsibility to reschedule the Festival due to the uncertainty of the next few months,” Laslett said. “Fortunately, harvest is a gorgeous time of year in the Santa Maria Valley and a terrific time for visitors and locals to immerse themselves in the winemaking season.”

The event will still feature over 70 local wine producers and food from local restaurants, farmers and caterers along with the Bank of Marin Bubble Lounge, educational demonstrations and live music. Vintners Visas, offering unique and complimentary wine tasting at a choice of twelve participating tasting rooms, will now be valid from Oct. 8-12. 

For those customers who have already purchased Vintners Visas or tickets to the Festival and are unable to attend the new date, refunds are available by emailing info@sbcountywines.com. All tickets including the Vintners Visa, Festival Grand Tasting and ticket packages are available on NightOut.com. For more information about the Santa Barbara Vintners Festival Weekend including local winery events, visit www.sbvintnersweekend.com.

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Epiphany, a local Rhone-focused winemaking label, is celebrating 2020 as its 20^th anniversary with anniversary-specific releases such as Grenache Rosé in magnum, events at its tasting room in Los Olivos, and expanded efforts in wholesale markets across Southern California.

“It’s a happy milestone for us, to get to celebrate not just 20 years of focus on the Rhone varietals that make Epiphany’s wines best-in-class, but the quality of grapes from our family estate that make our emphasis on single-vineyard wines possible,” said Eli Parker, co-owner of the Fess Parker Family Portfolio and Epiphany’s founder and former head winemaker.

“Just having celebrated the 30^th anniversary of Fess Parker Winery last year, we’re reflecting on how far we’ve come as a winemaking family in Santa Barbara County and really cherishing this year as Epiphany’s big year,” said Ashley Parker Snider, co-owner of the Fess Parker Family Portfolio. “Epiphany has always been rooted in the thrill of discovery – whether you’re trying Counoise for the first time or experiencing Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre in a whole new way.”

“Whether you first experienced Epiphany wines at our tasting room in downtown Los Olivos or on premise at fine dining restaurants around Southern California, we hear over and over from customers that they’ve been hooked – by the fun of the brand and the quality of the wines,” said Tim Snider, president of Fess Parker’s wine business and chief marketing officer of the Fess Parker Family Portfolio. 

“We’re marking this 20^th anniversary in deep appreciation of our incredible winemaking team, the customers and club members who have sustained the program over the last two decades, and in celebration of the next round of folks who are about to discover Epiphany for themselves,” he said.

To learn more about Epiphany wines, visit https://www.epiphanywineco.com/.

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