The American Dream with Chris Palme – Funk Zone Neighborhood

Ideal for wine lovers who savor the tasting experience over sprawling tours, this year’s nominees showcase some of the best tasting rooms across the U.S. From the rolling hills of Indiana and Michigan to the dramatic landscapes of California’s Napa and Santa Barbara regions and the lush vineyards of Oregon and Washington, these rooms offer…

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On June 29, more than 1,300 people enjoyed the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s annual Santa Barbara Wine + Food Festival, where 91 winery, other beverage, and food purveyors offered tastings. As always, winemakers, chefs, and proprietors were on hand to personally serve their fine creations and chat with guests in the idyllic setting…

Santa Barbara’s nickname as “The American Riviera” isn’t just marketing speak. This coastal town truly embodies Mediterranean elegance with a decidedly California vibe. The red-tiled roofs of its Spanish Colonial architecture and pristine beaches that stretch along the coastline make for scenes worthy of a postcard, but it’s the world-class wines, innovative farm-to-table cuisine, and quirky…

As Director of the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience and writer behind Petite Wine Traveler, I’m thrilled to bring you exclusive interviews with the incredible people shaping SBCE 2025. This series for the Santa Barbara Independent highlights the makers, storytellers, and flavor-chasers whose work defines our region’s vibrant food and wine scene. I recently sat down…

Santa Barbara, CA – March 26, 2025 – Margerum Wine Company is pleased to bestow the title of Head Winemaker to Robert Daugherty. Robert, who has been leading winemaking at Margerum for the past two years working alongside with Doug Margerum, is uniquely qualified for the position. Under Daugherty’s direction, Margerum has continued its tradition…