Thursday, December 4, 2025
Aperitif and appetizers to be served at 7:30pm and we will sit for the tasting at 8pm.
*If you are a non-member and would like to join, we'd love to have you. Please be sure to select the non-member ticket from the dropdown menu.
The Tasting
Join us for an exclusive evening featuring 11+ exceptional wines from Santa Barbara County, part of California’s acclaimed Central Coast AVA and located just over 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The evening begins with an aperitif wine, followed by a guided tasting of 10 distinctive selections from the county’s celebrated American Viticultural Areas: Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley, Happy Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley, and Ballard Canyon.
Santa Barbara’s reputation grew dramatically after the 2004 film Sideways shone a spotlight on the region’s Pinot Noir, but its depth and diversity extend far beyond one grape or moment in time. We’ll taste flagship varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from these AVAs, alongside wines that highlight smaller, specialized microclimates—from Rhône-style Syrahs to elegant Bordeaux varietals. We’ll experience well-known estates such as Sea Smoke and Jonata, as well as small-production, direct-to-consumer wineries personally sourced by your presenter. The tasting will feature one wine aged over 15 years and a critically acclaimed wine rated 97 points, showcasing both the region’s depth and its aging potential.
Winemaker Insights
Attendees will also have the special opportunity to meet and hear directly from Fernando Fernandez, winemaker owner and founder of Co^lluvial wines, in attendance, offering personal insight into the vineyards, philosophy, and craftsmanship behind the exceptional wines.
More on Santa Barbara
Wine regions are rare, and great ones rarer still. Grapes are notoriously particular—they choose where they thrive. Santa Barbara County is one such place where the grapes have found their ideal home. Its unique transverse valleys, shaped by the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains, run east–west rather than north–south—a geological rarity that allows cool Pacific air and fog to flow inland. This natural orientation creates a patchwork quilt of microclimates and soils, producing one of the most diverse grape-growing regions in the world.
Within the county lie seven federally recognized AVAs: the historic Santa Maria Valley, established in 1981 as California’s second AVA after Napa, followed by the expansive Santa Ynez Valley, which encompasses Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District, and Happy Canyon; and the newly established Alisos Canyon near Los Alamos. Each offers distinct expressions shaped by climate, elevation, and exposure.
What makes this tasting special:
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A thoughtfully curated lineup of direct-to-consumer wines and several selections rarely available in retail.
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Well-known estates like Sea Smoke and Jonata, alongside smaller artisanal producers, offers a true snapshot of the region’s range and prestige.
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Includes a 15-year-old library wine and a 97 point selection that illustrate the longevity and excellence of Santa Barbara’s terroir.
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An engaging, guided presentation and conversation with one of the winemakers, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the region’s evolving story.
Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or exploring this extraordinary region for the first time, this tasting offers a memorable journey through the valleys, vintners, and vineyards that make Santa Barbara County a true gem of California’s Central Coast AVA.
Reserve your seat—space is limited!
Photographs by Amanda Wose photography.
Members: $95
Non-Members: $110
Location: 82 Union Street, Montclair, NJ 07042. Please be sure to secure a ticket before the day of the event as we cannot accept walk-in attendees. Ample parking in the rear of the building.
