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Vintner Richard Sanford may have found the ingredient that will keep the wine flowing at his Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: EnCap Investments LP’s Robert Zorich.  

Mr. Zorich has offered to purchase the Santa Ynez Valley, Calif., property for $1.7 million in a deal that would allow Mr. Sanford and his wife, Thekla, to continue living and producing wine there as employees. The sale would be tested during an auction next month.  

Neither Mr. Sanford nor Mr. Zorich responded to request for comment.  

Mr. Sanford, a hall-of-fame winemaker, is credited with bringing the pinot noir grape to California’s Central Coast. But his winery has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy since July 2012. - WSJ

With bocce ball court views extending from Point San Luis to the dunes of Guadalupe to the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard across the river, the new winery — which required two years of steady construction to build and must have cost many millions, though the family won’t say — is making it much easier to get a taste of the Santa Maria Valley. And with sleek modernist architecture, the latest 21st-century winemaking technology, and a commitment to sustainable practices in both the winery and surrounding vineyards, Presqu’ile is bringing a polished style to the boot- and blue-jeans-wearing region, all while staying focused on making some of the tastiest wines around. - SBIndy

 

We are extremely excited to announce the 2014 Wine Bloggers Conference will be in Santa Barbara, California on July 11-13th. The conference has not been back to California since its first two years, in 2008 and 2009, and we know California and the Santa Barbara area will give us a good reception.

The conference will take place at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton, in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country. The population of the town is about 5,000, which means everyone will know we are there. The city is located right in the heart of wine country, which (if you have not been) is beautiful, with large open expanses and rolling hills. - Wine Bloggers Conference

In Santa Barbara, the soon-to-open Caveau Wine Bar & Merchant is hosting a tasting of local wines from the 2012 vintage with more than 50 wineries taking part, including the Ojai Vineyard, Brewer-Clifton, Sandhi and Au Bon Climat. The beauty is that it’s a futures tasting and wines will be offered at 20% off retail if purchased before they are released, i.e., in the future. 

...Founded by two enormously qualified sommeliers, Eric Railsback and Brian McClintic (star of the film "Somm"), Caveau specializes in European wines — and in local Santa Barbara wineries. - LATimes

Fidelity National Financial Inc. Chairman Bill Foley plans to launch “The Foley Food & Wine Society” to offer members-only access to wineries, restaurants and other destinations in the U.S. and Zealand. 

...“Become a member of the Foley Food and Wine Society and receive exclusive access to our world-class collection of wineries, lodging, golf courses, restaurants and luxury lifestyle partners,” it says.
“Our team of experts will provide useful information on wine education, cooking, gardening, and farm to table cuisine, golf, ski, and fitness tips – a wealth of information exclusively for member,” it says. 
Members also will receive other offers and discounts at Foley Family and partner properties as well as access to the Foley Food and Wine Exchange, where members can shop online for wines and other items.

Members will be enrolled in the Society Points program and receive 2,500 points upon joining and 1 point for every dollar spent with the society. Points can be used for tickets to Foley Food and Wine Society events at wineries, restaurants, lodges, dinners and at partner properties around the world as well as discounts off wine and lodging, private reserve tastings, seminars and wine education, and tours, cooking and gardening events, private meals, golf, ski passes and more at society properties. - Jacksonville Daily Record and the Wall Street Journal

 The European Commission, the 27-nation European Union’s executive body in Brussels, is considering a U.S. request to drop a ban on import into Europe of American wines bearing the label “chateau” or “clos,” a similar term used mainly on wines from Burgundy in eastern France. An E.U. wine committee is tentatively scheduled to vote on the request Sept. 25, whereupon it will go to the commission for a final decision that, given the tides of globalization in Europe, could well be positive. 

“They’re trying to steal our reputation,” Haverlan said during a tour of his sun-splashed property. “The real chateaux, they’re certainly not in the United States.” - WaPo  

Enjoy tastings from the following local vintners & breweries…

Ancient Peaks Winery           

Bodega de Edgar

Carina Cellars

Casa Dumetz Wines  

Coquelicot Wines

Curtis Winery 

Drake Wines  

Grassini Family Vineyards

Firestone Walker Brewery

Kenneth Volk Vineyards

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

Presqu'ile Wine

Riverbench Vineyard & Winery

Storm Wines

Paired with delicious bites from the following local eateries…                                   

Arch Rock Fish           

Arlington Tavern

Avant Tapas & Wine

Butterfly Brittle           

Cadiz

California Wood Fired Catering

Central City Market   

Coast Restaurant & Bar

Delicious Expressions

Enterprise Fish Company

Intermezzo Bar + Café

Los Agaves

Luna Olivo     

Marmalade Café

Miró at Bacara Resort & Spa

Petros

Spoon Santa Barbara Gelato

California’s wine industry is the focus of an upcoming report on “In Focus with Martin Sheen,” which is expected to air this fall on public television across the United States.The show hosted by actor Martin Sheen highlights industries that exhibit growth through innovation, and contribute to their community. Each year, California’s wine industry produces more than $20 billion in revenue, trailing only France, Italy and Spain as the world’s top producers.Our state’s wine industry is also a leader in its efforts to utilize sustainable farming techniques.Sheen, who has nearly five decades in the entertainment industry and more than 60 feature films and television roles to his credit, hosts the series. - Santa Maria Times