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Margerum Wine Co. & Barden

Doug Margerum and his Margerum Wine Co. took a hard hit when their tasting room had to close in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. He’s confident it can reopen as a safe environment for both our guests and employees. (Margerum Wine Co. photo)

Most all businesses have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the wine industry has been notably hit as many of our restaurant clients have closed. Appropriately, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has recently changed its regulations and is now allowing restaurants to sell wine along with their to-go orders, and many of restaurant clients are selling our wine that way. Retailers have done well with our wines as their customers seem to have an especially acute need for fine wine right now.

Margerum Wine Co. & Barden opened a new tasting room last year in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone (after being tortured by the City of Santa Barbara permit process), across the street from the Hotel Californian, to great acclaim and incredible customer response.

On March 16, we closed. It was a severe blow to our income after a substantial investment. We laid off the entire tasting room staff, which was heartbreaking. We plan to reopen just as soon as we are allowed. We have plenty of space for social distancing. We will post a staff member at the door to make sure hands are sterilized and the rules are known. We will seat groups in pre-sterilized sections six feet apart. We will have disposable menus and all the staff will wear facemasks as well.

Santa Barbara County has already provided us with guidelines, and we feel comfortable it will be a safe environment for both our guests and employees.

Margerum and Barden sell a lot of wine online. Local customers take advantage of our free delivery or use the curbside pickup option. Our website has incredible offers, so do not feel guilty: Buy as much as you want.

— Douglas Barden Margerum, owner

Margerum Wine Co. & Barden Tasting Room, Hotel Californian at the corner of Mason Street and Helena Avenue in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, and the Buellton Winery Tasting Room, 59 Industrial Way in Buellton

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