No one, including me, pays enough attention to Santa Barbara Wine Country. It’s frankly one of the greatest sources of California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but somehow seems to take a back seat compared to the glitz and glamour of Northern California wine country.
Want to see what you’re missing? Then you might want to check out the Wine and Fire Festival put on by the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance. In this time of climate disasters and crazy fires, I’m not so sure about the name they chose for the event (let’s hope there are NO fires), but I am sure that it will be a fantastic opportunity to taste some incredible Pinot and Chardonnay, eat some fantastic food, and spend time learning, drinking, and celebrating with wine lovers and winemakers alike.
The weekend begins on Thursday, August 13th, with several seminars and tastings. That evening there’s a Barn Party at Sanford and Benedict Winery. Friday sports more seminars and tastings, culminating in the Grand Tasting on Saturday, August 15th from 4:00 to 7:00. The Grand Tasting, which takes place at the historic La Purisima Mission, will feature live music and lots of food offerings from local purveyors “showcasing grilled, roasted, and smoked specialties alongside curated seasonal bites,” according to the event website. Sounds pretty tasty to me!…