Women Winemakers Celebration Sells Out for March Event at New Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection

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The sixth annual “Women Winemakers Celebration: A Toast to Women in Wine and Food” will showcase 30 of Santa Barbara County’s female winemakers, and more than a dozen chefs, bakers and other food crafters.

Tickets for the event sold out Feb. 22, according to Anna Ferguson-Sparks, a publicist for the event with its co-founder, winemaker Karen Steinwachs.

This year, the fundraising event will benefit The Rainbow House, the first LGBTQIA+ community resource center in the Santa Ynez Valley, and will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the newly opened Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, the historic property along Highway 154 in Los Olivos.

“When we launched this celebration in 2017, we never imagined that it would gain ground in the manner that it has. The support that our community displays to our women winemakers through this event is greatly appreciated and so very important,” Steinwachs said.

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“Knowing that we’re all in this together and being able to, in turn, show that support to other causes in the region is what makes this event so pertinent.” 

This year’s celebration attracted more winemakers than any past event — “we have more than 30 ladies pouring on March 12,” she noted.

Returning with her sparkling wine label, Loubud Wines, winemaker Laura Roach said she’s “extremely honored” to participate in the event.

“I am so thankful to have landed in such a supportive and creative winemaking community,” she said, “and am excited to represent our high-quality wine region on Women’s Day.”

2022 Women Winemakers Celebration
Some of the winemakers and chefs from the 2022 Women Winemakers Celebration. Chef Brooke Stockwell, front row, third from left, will once again organize this year’s culinary talent.  Courtesy photo

The International Women’s Day — on March 8 this year — has been celebrated worldwide since 1909 and focuses on working women’s achievements and issues. While about 10% of the global wine industry has female lead winemakers, Santa Barbara County boasts a much higher percentage of women winemakers than other regions in the world — with nearly double the average and growing each year, as is evidenced by this year’s roster.

Brit Zotovich, owner/winemaker of Dreamcôte Wine Co., said she enjoys being “part of something so good-natured — it’s electric standing alongside so many other amazing, inspiring winemakers. Getting around to try at least one killer wine from each of the (participants’) tables is one of my favorite parts of the event.”

Zotovich lauded Steinwachs for her efforts: “It needs to be said that Karen has put this event together for the past six years — she created a beautiful event that raises money for great causes and really brings a beautiful sense of community. Karen has been a winemaker for 23 years; she’s an inspiration to me and many others in the community.”

Among the winemakers pouring are Steinwachs, Seagrape Wine Co.; Lane Tanner, Lumen Wines; Kathy Joseph, Fiddlehead Cellars; Brooke Carhartt, Carhartt Family Wines; Zotovich, Dreamcôte Wine Co.; Sonja Magdevski, Casa Dumetz Wines, Clementine Carter, The Feminist Party; Alecia Moore, Two Wolves Wine; Alison Thomson, Lepiane Wines; Mireia Taribó & Tara Gomez, Camins 2 Dreams; Sandra Newman, Cebada Wine; Gretchen Voelcker, Piazza Family Wines and Luna Hart Wines; Roach, Loubud Wines; Dana Volk, Dana V. Wines; Jessica Gasca, Story of Soil; Angela Osborne, A Tribute To Grace Wine Company; Wynne Solomon, Peake Ranch Winery; Rachel DeAscentiis, Say When Wine; Samra Morris, Alma Rosa Winery; Alice Anderson, âmevive; Magan Eng, Kunin Wines; Megan McGrath Gates, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards; Kristin Bryden, Zaca Mesa Winery; Amy Christine, Holus Bolus & The Joy Fantastic; Gretchen Rogers, Amiga de la Vina; Emmy Fjerstad, Forsu Wine Company; Claire Wilson, Provignage; Sunny Doench Stricker, Future Perfect Wine; Allyson Bycraft, Babcock Winery & Vineyards; Marlen Porter, Amplify Wines; Roxie Ward, Butternut Wines (Miller Family Wine Company); Anna Clifford, Cambria Wines, Nielson Wines, Final Girl Wines; and Jill DelaRiva Russell, Cambria Winery.

Culinary talent for this year’s event will be organized by Brooke Stockwell, executive chef at Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, and among those participating will be Rhoda Magbitang, executive chef, The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern; Erica Velazquez, co-chef/co-owner of Solvang’s Ramen Kotori; Golzar Barrera, owner of Santa Ynez Valley’s All Purpose Flower; Janelle Norman, owner and cheese monger at Solvang’s Cailloux Cheese Shop; Sarah Price, owner/operator of Lompoc-based Sassafras Mobile Food Truck and Restaurant; Melissa Scrymgeour, chef/co-owner, Clean Slate Wine Bar; Laura Newman, co-owner of Los Olivos’ Lefty’s Coffee Co.; Kimberly Zimmerman, owner, The Juicy Life; Lisa Thompson, chef at Global Gardens; Tracy Fleming, owner/baker, The Bakery Farmstand; Shanté Norwood, owner/baker at Té’Stees Cupcakes; and treats- and truffle-maker Jessica Foster of Jessica Foster Confections.

Foodie donations will be made by Theo Stephan, owner of Global Gardens, and Shawnda Marmorstein, owner of the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café and Café Farm.

The event is sponsored in part by Visit the Santa Ynez Valley and The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection.