Sta. Rita Hills AVA Wine & Fire Weekend August 12-15
2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the Sta. Rita Hills receiving its AVA status and we are celebrating with Wine and Fire!
August 12th - 15th make plans to visit our wineries and tasting rooms for four days of festivities. All events have limited ticket sales to ensure an intimate food and wine experience.
Tickets are very limited and on sale now as individual events, or as a Wine and Fire Weekend package. Our Weekend package includes all three seminars, a complimentary weekend Passport, and our premier La Paulee Dinner honoring our Sta. Rita Hills pioneers.
Limited tickets to our Wine and Fire Grand Tasting at La Purisima Mission are on sale. These will sell out quickly so order now so you don't miss out on this very special event.
In the meantime, our tasting rooms, hotels, and restaurants are ready to welcome you and show you some Sta. Rita Hills hospitality!
WINE AND FIRE EVENTS:
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Tasting at Sanford & Benedict Barn
August 12th Thursday 5:00-7:00/ $90.00 includes shuttle transportation to the event.
Our first event focuses on the first vineyard planted in 1971 by Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict in what would eventually become the Sta. Rita Hills. Don’t miss this opportunity to taste wines of multiple vintages from multiple wineries that source fruit from this hallowed ground. Casual walk-around tasting with plenty of opportunities to chat with the winemakers that produce Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir.
Due to limited parking, shuttle busses will be leaving from 3 Lompoc Hotels to transport you to the Sanford & Benedict vineyard on Santa Rosa Road. The fee is included in the price of this ticket. There will also be a shuttle you can catch from the Sanford Tasting room to the vineyard event.
Full of Life Flatbread will be preparing fire-grilled flatbreads for your enjoyment.
Participating Wineries: Barden, Dragonette, Hitching Post Wines, Ken Brown Wines, Liquid Farm, Longoria Wines and Sanford Winery
The History of Sparkling Wines in the Sta. Rita Hills
August 13th Friday morning 9:30 – 12:00 / $75.00 per person
Montemar Winery, 1501 E Chestnut Ct, Suite E, Lompoc
Moderator: Adam Lee
Is there a better way to start your morning off than with bubbles? A comprehensive look at how sparkling wines got their start in our region and their evolution over the years. Why is Sta. Rita Hills an obvious location to grow sparkling wines? How does it compare to other regions and why are so many producers adding sparklers to their line-up. A one-hour discussion with our winemakers followed by a table tasting where you can roam Montemar’s beautiful back garden tasting bubbles from our participating wineries.
Participating Wineries: Flying Goat Cellars, Norm Yost; Kessler-Haak, Dan Kessler; Pali Wine Co., Aaron Walker; Sanford Winery, Laura Roach; Spear Vineyards and Winery and Strange Family Vineyards
Dinner Honoring our Pioneers of the SRH, La Paulee Style
August 13th Friday Night 5:00 – 8:30 / $140.00 per person
Location: Alma Rosa Vineyard, 7250 Santa Rosa Road Buellton
For our Wine and Fire "Barn Party" we will gather at the Alma Rosa vineyard for a La Paulee style tasting and dinner. A sparkling reception will begin at 5:00 and then we will move into a program to honor our Pioneer winemakers who first envisioned the promise of our wine region and have dedicated their careers to the Sta. Rita Hills. After the program enjoy a delicious oak-grilled buffet dinner prepared by Anthony Endy and The Alisal Guest Ranch staff. Bring those SRH bottles you've been waiting to open, share wines with your tablemates and friends, and toast 20 years of the Sta. Rita Hills La Paulee style!
Honorees include: Master of Ceremonies: Wes Hagen; Bryan Babcock, Babcock Winery; Greg Brewer, Brewer-Clifton; Ken Brown, Ken Brown Wines; Kathy Joseph, Fiddlehead Cellars; Rick Longoria, Longoria Wines; Bruce McGuire, Lafond Winery and Richard Sanford, Alma Rosa
Time in a Bottle
August 14th Saturday 9:30 – 12:00 / $75.00 per person
Location: Spear Vineyards and Winery
6700 East Highway 246, Lompoc
Moderator: Wes Hagen
We now are at a point in time to see just how age-worthy wines from the Sta. Rita Hills can be. Join our panel of winemakers to taste older vintages and discover the aging attributes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from our very cool AVA.
Participating Wineries to date: Moderator, Wes Hagen; Brewer-Clifton, Gregory Brewer; Hitching Post Wines, Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini; Dragonette Cellars, Brandon Sparks Gillis; Longoria Wines, Rick Longoria and Seagrape, Karen Steinwachs
Grand Tasting at La Purisima Mission
August 14th 5:00 - 7:30 / $100.00 per person
2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc
Enjoy a magical evening under the oaks at La Purisima Mission sipping fine Sta. Rita Hills wines, snacking on tasty treats, and mingling with smiling faces! Our members and chefs are excited to welcome you to our favorite tasting event of the year. Tickets are very limited so order now so you don't miss out on the last event of our anniversary weekend.
Sunday Funday - Make it your own! Check with your favorite winery for special events or enjoy the benefits of our weekend passport.
Anniversary Passport -August 12th through the 15th / $40.00
Visit our participating tasting rooms and enjoy 2 for 1 tasting benefits.
Shuttle tickets $20.00: from 3 Lompoc Hotels are also available for the La Paulee Dinner on August 13th and for our Grand Tasting at La Purisima Mission.
Pick up at Lompoc Hotels, The Hilton Garden Inn, The Embassy Suites, and O’Cairns Inn & Suites. Pick up schedules will be sent out prior to the event.
WHERE TO STAY AND EAT IN LOMPOC
Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance Hospitality Sponsors " Be Our Guest!"
The Hilton Garden Inn
1201 North "H" Street Lompoc 93436
Lompoc's newest hospitality venue will be opening soon with spacious and elegantly appointed rooms, a full-service restaurant and bar, a Grand Ballroom as well as meeting rooms equipped with state of the art Audio Visual.
For information email sales@hgilompoc.com.
The Holiday Inn Express
1417 North "H" Street Lompoc 93436
1 888 HOLIDAY
Nestled in the Santa Rita Hills of California's Central Coast, Lompoc is a place set apart by its flower fields, beautiful murals, a historic mission and thriving vineyards. Whether you're here for business or pleasure, you'll enjoy your stay.