Santa Barbara WINE aficionadO : April 4, 2025

[Santa-Barbara-Wine-Events]

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Happenings
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Fool's Gold Wine Festival

When: Sat Apr  5, 2025 at 03:00 PM to Sat Apr  5, 2025 at 05:00 PM
Where: Pico Los Alamos 458 Bell St Los Alamos, CA 93440
Why:

Join us for a tasting of library wines, unicorns, and rarities from local producers including Brander, Civilization, Clementine Carter, Disko, DreamCote, Eislynn, Ken Brown, LoFi, Lumen, Pars Fortuna, Rancho Sisquoc, Roark, Rocket's Red, Sea Creatures, Storm, Story of Soil, and Whitcraft. $25 per ticket

https://www.exploretock.com/picolosalamos/event/526088/fools-gold-wine-festival

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Wine Tasting Event Featuring Jim Binns

When: Tue Apr  8, 2025 at 06:00 PM to Tue Apr  8, 2025 at 08:00 PM
Where: The Good Land Wine Shop & Bar 4177 State St, Santa Barbara, CA  93110, United States
Why:

This Tuesday Jim Binns will be at the shop at 6pm pouring his amazing Andremily wines.  Owner and winemaker Jim Binns has managed to become one of the greatest producers of Rhône-varietal blends in California’s Central Coast.  Binns has had a direct hand in developing some of the most highly collectible Californian wines ever made during his 12 years as assistant winemaker to Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non.  At the heart of Binns' winemaking philosophy is a reverence for nature and a dedication to sustainable practices. He meticulously tends to his vineyards, employing organic and biodynamic methods to nurture the vines and preserve the land for future generations. By working in harmony with nature, Binns believes he can coax out the true essence of the grapes and create wines that express the purest expression of their terroir. His wines exhibit a remarkable depth of flavor, balanced acidity, and silky tannins that captivate the palate.  Come by the shop this Tuesday at 6pm and taste 5 of Jim's wines, all rated 97 points or more!  There will be live music by Gary Heck, local cheese and crackers, the good land provides. $45 per person

RSVP to do...@goodlandwineshop.com please

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Saunters and Sips 2025

When: Sat Apr 12, 2025 at 02:00 PM to Sat Apr 12, 2025 at 05:00 PM
Where: Museum of Ventura County, 100 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001, USA
Why:

Saunter & Sip with Alliance members who will be pouring Rosés and delicious Sparkling wines. Taste over 25 Sta. Rita Hills wineries where they will be showcasing their current and new release Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and more! High on the Hog Catering will be providing delicious BBQ and snacks. Music by The Salty Strings will round out our event for a lovely Spring afternoon.

Barden - Caella Wines - Camins 2 Dreams - CrossHatch Winery - Dusty Nabor Wines - Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard - Fiddlehead Cellars - Flying Goat Cellars - Ken Brown Wines - Lompoc Wine - Factory - Loubud Wines - Montemar Wines - Pali Wine Co. - Peake Ranch Winery - SAMsARA Wine Co - Sandhi Wines - Sanford Winery - Seagrape Wine Company - Sweetzer Cellars - The Ojai Vineyard - Tomi Cellars amd more!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saunters-and-sips-2025-tickets-1232890260959

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California Wine Festival

When: Fri Apr 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM to Sun Apr 27, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Where: Dana Point, CA, USA
Why:



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California Wine Festival - Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting

When: Fri Apr 25, 2025 at 06:30 PM to Fri Apr 25, 2025 at 09:00 PM
Where: Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629, USA
Why:

Guests are invited sip on fine wines and taste a variety of delicacies at the beautiful Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa overlooking the sparkling Pacific. This is an elegant VIP event for true fine wine lovers, located in one of Orange County's most beautiful coastal cities – Dana Point. The limited number of tickets sell out quickly due to the rarity of the wines being poured. A sparkling wine reception is just the prelude to an evening of sampling hard-to-find trophy wines to an adoring crowd dressed in their finest casual/elegant resort wear.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-california-wine-festival-dana-point-april-25-26-tickets-1102653118159

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Visit http://livenotessb.com for a comprehensive listing of live music at wine bars, wineries, and other local venues.

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News and other Nonsense
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How looming tariffs are hurting California's wine and liquor industry

Bars, wine shops and importers are anxious about Trump's proposed tariffs, which they say will imperil an industry already facing serious challenges.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-03-25/trump-wine-champagne-spirits-tariffs

These Two Words Are Key to Understanding Why Your Wine Tastes Buttery

Malolactic fermentation is a naturally occurring process in wine. It helps to tame astringency in red wines and can offer stability and a creamier texture to whites. Here's how to understand exactly what "malo" is and how it can affect the wines you love and loathe.
https://www.foodandwine.com/malolactic-fermentation-wine-explainer-11699822

Here's the Real Reason You Taste Wine Before the Waiter Pours

Want to impress your friends at a fancy restaurant? Here's what you're looking for when a server offers a taste of that newly opened wine.
https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/heres-the-real-reason-you-taste-wine-before-a-waiter-pours/

Trump threatens 200% tariff on European wine

President Donald Trump is threatening a 200% tariff on European wine, Champagne and spirits if the European Union goes forward with a planned tariff on American whiskey. The European import tax, which was unveiled in response to steel and aluminum tariffs by the U.S. administration, is expected to go into effect April 1, just ahead of separate reciprocal tariffs that Trump plans to place on the EU. Trump on Thursday called the EU among “the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities," complaining about the lack of U.S. auto sales in Europe and about lawsuits and fines against U.S. tech companies there. The European Commission says Europe wants to “negotiate to avoid tariffs.”
https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-eu-whiskey-cb259623a25ca1bfdb4673262ceef85b

AI Made Its Way to Vineyards. Here’s How the Technology Is Helping Make Your Wine

Experts say the wine industry is proof that businesses can integrate the technology efficiently to supplement labor without job losses.
https://time.com/7266310/ai-vineyards-wine/

Is red wine a healthier choice than white wine? Uncorking the cancer risks

Researchers have conducted a study that scours 'the vast and often contradictory literature on the carcinogenicity of red and white wine' to assess whether this assumption holds up, and to compare the cancer risks associated with wine type.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310131644.htm

Are California wines really full of scary additives?

For the last few years, ads on social media have been telling consumers that there’s a lot more than just grapes in the average bottle of California wine.
https://norcalpublicmedia.org/2025031197656/news-feed/are-california-wines-really-full-of-scary-additives

California wine supply drops 24%

A preliminary report from the US Department of Agriculture indicates that California's 2024 grape crush is the lowest for 20 years.
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/03/california-wine-supply-drops-24/

8 of the Funniest Wine Reviews on Vivino

Founded in 2010, Vivino is an app where wine lovers can catalog and rate their favorite — and not-so-favorite — bottles. In its decade and a half of existence, the online hub has accumulated millions of wine reviews, with users sharing their own personal opinions on just about every bottle available on the market. While many of the reviews are useful for shoppers browsing store shelves or restaurant lists, others can get a bit… unhinged. Some users treat the platform as a chance to share personal stories, while others use it to test out their poetry chops.
https://vinepair.com/articles/funniest-wine-reviews-on-vivino/

Wine Gone Wrong? How to Tell If Your Bottle Has Gone Bad

Perfectly Aged or Time to Pitch It? Master sommelier shares insights about storage, aging & spoilage There’s nothing quite as disappointing as opening a
https://www.fb101.com/wine-gone-wrong-how-to-tell-if-your-bottle-has-gone-bad/

Vaquero. Vintner. Landman. Leader.

Could James Ontiveros be the most important man in West Coast wine?
https://www.independent.com/2025/02/26/vaquero-vintner-landman-leader

Making a Wine Bottle Cabinet & Bar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBDOnyRxmWo

The most interesting grape you've never heard of could be an ideal match for climate change

It’s exceedingly rare in the U.S. but this French heat-tolerant grape is getting more fans, including in Sonoma County.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/picpoul-blanc-sonoma-county/

The 25 Biggest Wine Suppliers in the U.S.

The American Association of Wine Economics (AAWE) recently revealed the largest wine suppliers in the U.S. in an Instagram post. Using data sourced from the “2024 Wine Handbook”, AAWE compiled a list ranking the top 25 wine producers and distributors based on sales and market share in 2023. Digging into the data, it’s clear that the top suppliers dominate the market. Gallo — the wine giant behind top wine brands like Barefoot, La Marca, Mark West, Louis M.
https://vinepair.com/booze-news/americas-25-biggest-wine-suppliers/

Very rare paintings depicting the god of wine unearthed in Pompeii 2,000 years after city was buried by ash and lava

"It is an exceptional historical document," said Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pompeii-rare-paintings-god-of-wine-unearthed/

California Wine Festival raises a glass in two Orange County cities

Dana Point and Huntington Beach will both play host to the nationally recognized wine enthusiast event this year.
https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/story/2025-02-11/raise-a-glass-as-california-wine-festival-makes-two-orange-county-stops

Yes, the Sales Reports Are Scary, but Here's Why I Believe the Wine Biz Will Bounce Back

Wine sales are down and the recent Silicon Valley Bank Wine Report scared a lot of people in the wine business who are worried the trend will continue. Veteran wine writer Ray Isle spoke with winemaker Alecia Moore — aka the rock star P!nk — who gave him reasons to believe that new fans will fall in love with wine.
https://www.foodandwine.com/the-state-of-wine-and-pink-11680224

Comparative analysis of fungal and bacterial composition in natural wines and their closest pesticide-treated counterparts - Scientific Reports

Fermentation produces diverse consumables like bread, wine, beer, and cheese, with fungi playing a key role. This study sequenced fungal and bacteria DNA from 46 commercial wines, paired by vineyard proximity, harvest time, and grape variety. One in each pair was natural, while the other had pesticide treatments and microbial adjunctions. Bacteria profiles were studied using targeted sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene while fungal profiles were studied with ITS gene targeted sequencing. Significant variability was observed in the microbial content of these wines. We identified 19 unique fungal species in natural wines, absent in pesticide-treated ones. Some have known health roles. The most abundant was Penicillium jiangxiense in Lot-et-Garonne, known for its antitumor properties. Hyphopichia pseudoburtonii, with notable aromatic properties, was also detected, commonly found in insect and fish microbiota. Antrodia favescens, related to the medicinal Antrodia cinnamomea, was identified in another location, known for its role in Chinese herbal medicine against cancer and metabolic diseases. Ochrocladosporium elatum, recognized for its antioxidant and antibacterial activities, was found elsewhere. Additionally, natural wines exhibited greater bacterial biodiversity, contributing to unique tastes and potential health benefits.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-88655-4

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Conversation is the enemy of good wine and food.
- Alfred Hitchcock (1899 - 1980)
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