Wine Collection of El Paseo
The most comprehensive resource for wine tasting and touring in California since 1981
Sat, 11/01/2014
New Wine Collection features six ultra-premium wine tasting rooms in the presidio neighborhood of downtown Santa Barbara.
Several local Santa Barbara vintners have joined forces, and are introducing the new Wine Collection of El Paseo. The collection of six ultra-premium winetasting rooms is grouped together at the Historic El Paseo center in the Presidio Neighborhood of downtown Santa Barbara. Located in the heart of the fine dining and high-end shopping area of State Street, the Historic El Paseo is currently home to the wine tasting rooms of Grassini Family Vineyards, Au Bon Climat Winery, and Margerum Wine Company with winemaker Doug Margerum recently opening MWC32, a separate tasting room which showcases his reserve and limited production wines. Joining this existing collection of tasting rooms is Happy Canyon Vineyard and Jamie Slone Wines.
The new Wine Collection of El Paseo features small-production, boutique wineries producing ultra-premium wines sourced from local Santa Barbara County vineyards. Doug Margerum, a fixture in the hospitality and wine business of Santa Barbara for over 30 years said, “The experience at the new Wine Collection of El Paseo is very different from other wine tasting areas and is attracting a different demographic. Our visitors are not only interested in locally-crafted, small-production, distinctive wines, but also have a keen interest in the educational aspects, including learning about the terroir where the grapes are grown.”
Adds Katie Grassini of Grassini Family Vineyards, “We’re thrilled to have an opportunity to showcase so many of the diverse wine growing regions of Santa Barbara County at one truly stunning complex. Visitors will be able to taste our estate wines, as well as other distinguished, limited edition efforts, in an intimate setting where they can meander down the cobblestone paths through the paseo and enjoy the peaceful courtyards of this beautiful, historic building.”
Jamie Slone of Jamie Slone Wines says: “Our winemaker, Doug Margerum is helping us produce some really elegant wines that are terroir-driven, low-alcohol and food-friendly. We’re thrilled! We’re featuring ultra-premium Burgundian, Bordeaux and Rhone wine varietals from Santa Barbara County’s finest vineyards. Joining the new Wine Collection of El Paseo is a perfect fit for our brand. Our new tasting room features classic Spanish Colonial architecture, beautiful interiors, and is in the middle of fabulous fine dining and high-end shopping. We think that’s what an American Riviera Experience is all about.” Kym Slone adds, “We want customers to feel the experience of being welcomed into our home and our tasting room has been designed with that in mind. I’ll be there pouring along with Jamie and our little Havanese dog Sophie. Come visit us.”
Sean Pitts of Happy Canyon Vineyard echoed the enthusiasm. “This is a fantastic avenue for us to share not only our estate grown Bordeaux varietal wines, but also our family’s story. We’ve always been impressed with the tasting rooms in the El Paseo, and when a space in the historic building became available, we jumped at the opportunity.” The Barrack family-owned and operated vineyard and winery plans to energize the courtyard, using the grassy area to teach guests about Polo — a game near and dear to Happy Canyon Vineyard, which has two regulation Polo fields on its Santa Ynez Valley property at Piocho Ranch in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA.
Au Bon Climat Winery’s Jim Clendenen concludes, “Santa Barbara and the Urban Wine Trail has really come alive the last few years with wine tasting opportunities for visitors. Those that seriously appreciate the wine and food experience can start their journey here at the new Wine Collection of El Paseo. I’m pleased to welcome Happy Canyon Vineyard and Jamie Slone Wines to this collection.”
