Summer means a few things here in Santa Barbara: beach-filled days and much longer nights. That being said, it seems the only true way to take advantage of the sun’s late departure is to spend the nights doing what Central Coasters do best: drinking wine.
I can’t imagine a better way to start summer than with SLOVINTNERS’s 22nd annual Roll Out the Barrels, taking over San Luis Obispo and the surrounding areas from June 21-24.
This four day celebration of all things vino begins with Thursday night’s “Barrels in the Mission Plaza,” where two ambrosia-like substances – coveted dishes from SLO’s best eateries joining hands with lip-smacking libations from the 30 member wineries—combine into “Perfect Partners” specially coupled to expose the exceptional flavors of the central coast.
Friday hosts the Winemaker Dinners, where guests may choose the winery (or winery-teams) with whom they wish to dine. Each dinner includes several tastings of the best bottles, as well as lavish dinners by the most talented and wine-savvy chefs of SLO’s nosheries. Some of the winery dinners available include: Baileyana, Tangent, Trenza, Cadre & Zocker; Chamisal Vineyards; Claiborne & Churchill; and Tolosa Winery. The winemakers each bring a different spin to their respective dining events, so choose whichever makes your mouth water the most (and be sure to satiate that thirst with glasses of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or my personal favorite white, Viogner). Details on all winery dinners available here.
Saturday and Sunday bring about the “Passport to Wine Country” Weekend. All you need to enjoy this non-stop celebration of barrels and bites is a wristband “passport,” which gives you access to all participating wineries along the central coast. Take your glass along to each winery and experience tastings, wine-and-food pairings, tours, and barrel samples. Take a pre-defined route or blaze your own vino-trail. Just don’t forget the designated driver!
Wine celebrations are nothing new to us California folk, but few weekends truly commemorate the entire experience that is enjoying wine quite the way that Roll Out the Barrels does. Socializing, indulging, experiencing and enjoying are what this celebration is all about—and the abundance of exceptional wines doesn’t hurt.
For full details, please click here.
-Taylor Micaela Davis
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