We inherently knew that Santa Barbara County featured a higher percentage of women winemakers than any other region. It just “was”, likely because our little corner of wine paradise was somewhat unconventional and on the maverick side of the industry. But it wasn’t touted and that “card” wasn’t really played.  All worked hard, along with male colleagues to simply make the best wines from an incredible region.

A chance listen to Patricia Arquette’s award speech at the 2015 Oscars inspired a “why not??”  Why not celebrate that fact that we are and have been more than 10% of the winemaker population here? Which is how the Women Winemakers Celebration organically began.

On March 8, 2015, a group of Santa Barbara County female winemakers gathered at Sonja Magdevski’s Casa Dumetz tasting room in Los Alamos. This casual tasting was to highlight International Women’s Day, share wines with each other and the public, and start to tell the story.

That bottle share was the impetus of the idea to gather around a table during Women’s History Month and to also give back to the community. In 2017, the first tasting and dinnerwas held in Solvang at the previously known K’Syrah event space. A grand tasting was followed by a multi-course dinner crafted by Chef Brooke Stockwell and her merry band of fellow female chefs. A sell-out, the proceeds of that inaugural event were donated to The Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County.  K’Syrah continued to donate the venue and host the event in 2018 and 2019, which featured more winemakers, more chefs, female photographers, musicians, sommeliers and food purveyors.  Wines, the venue, service, food and everyone’s time was donated so that the donation to the Women’s Fund was maximized.

Due to increasing demand, the event was moved to Roblar Farm in 2020. Once again, the grand tasting of all participating winemakers was followed by a sit-down, multi-course meal prepared by the cadre of lady chefs.  March 8^th came around on a Sunday and Brunch was held under the pergola in the Farm’s gardens. Little did we know that this would be the last event before the world shut down due to the pandemic.  Another sell-out, proceeds from the event were donated to the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County, already working to help with food insecurity during the pandemic.

In 2021, like most of the world, we went virtual. March featured multiple online tastings and discussions with 3-4 women winemakers per Zoom and online fund-raising again contributed to the Food Bank.

We were able to gather in person in 2022, although decided to err on the side of caution with an outdoor grand tasting.  Roblar Farm was again the setting with the winemakers side-by-side with chef’s mobile kitchens, food trucks and grazing tables. Proceeds of the 2021 event were donated to Community Health Centers to assist with programs designated for women farm workers.  Another fast ticket sell-out and time to grow again.

Local excitement was growing with the opening of the Auberge Resort at Mattei’s Tavern, and the management team generously offered the facility for the 2023 event.  150 guests wandered pouring stations on the lawn, gardens, water tower and barn to taste wine and small bites from three dozen winemakers and over a dozen chefs and specialty food purveyors. Music from a local songstress filled the air as we celebrated each other, our local historical landmark and International Women’s Day.  The chosen beneficiary (always by a vote of the winemakers) was The Rainbow House, Inc.