Each year, Santa Barbara welcomes visitors from far and wide looking to relax and enjoy a day of wine and food in the sun. This year marks the 36th year that Vintners has come to wine country, and it will be held from Thursday, April 19th until Monday, April 23rd.
From Thursday to Monday, there are a number of key events that you should not miss. On Saturday from 1-4 pm the Festival Grand Tasting takes place at River Park in Lompoc. This tasting lets you enjoy new release wines, food samples from more than twenty food purveyors, live music performances, culinary demonstrations, a silent auction, and free parking, all included in the cost of one ticket. For a more intimate or upgraded experience, splurge on the Early Entry ticket or Connoisseurs Club access.
Saturday morning, join the Santa Barbara Wine Seminar from 9:30 to 11 am at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott. The seminar includes a tasting, optional lunch, and a wine maker panel moderated by Elaine Brown, famed wine writer. Saturday evening, prepare yourself for the Big Bottle Bash at K’Syrah at 7pm in downtown Solvang. The event includes a tasty family style dinner, and large format wine pairings.
For more a detailed schedule of the weekend’s events and ticket and pass pricing, check out the Santa Barbara Vintners website. This is a popular weekend in California. For all your transportation needs, reserve your shuttle to and from the event soon with Xpress.