Local Event

The 12th Annual Garagiste Wine Festival: Southern Exposure

Cost: $79-$179

Use discount code SAVE10 to get $10 off any ticket before 12/24/25!

Recently named the #1 Best Wine Festival in the Country by USA Today, the Garagiste Festival is a unique opportunity to discover and taste from 30 hard-to-find, ultra-premium, micro-production wineries from all over California in beautiful Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country just north of Santa Barbara.

The Garagiste Festival is the first and only organization that gathers these undiscovered artisan ‘garagiste’ winemakers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot wines in the world. You'll never find these wines in supermarkets - and you'll never find them all in one place like this. Discover the biggest "small" thing happening in the world of wine. One place, one tasting fee - a world of wine awaits! 

All Events at The Veterans' Memorial Hall. 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA

SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 7th 

VIP Seminar & Grand Tasting — 11:00am-5:00pm — $139

The day begins with one of our Signature Seminars, this year’s featuring one of Santa Barbara’s most acclaimed winemakers - Greg Brewer. This deep dive into Greg’s 30 years of winemaker in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA is sure to be both educational and inspirational. His knowledge and vast experience from the vineyard to the bottle and his commitment to the region and winemaking standards are what makes him stand apart. Get to hear how his holistic approach to his craft translates to the glass and enjoy tasting some of his award-winning wines. Also includes a box lunch from Panino and Early Access to the Grand Tasting at 1pm with a limited crowd. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance.

Early Access 1:00-5:00pm - $99

Find your favorites amongst our lineup of artisan winemakers who will be pouring over 150 wines. Includes: extra 1 hour Early Access tasting with a limited crowd for a more personal experience, plus (3) hours at the Grand Tasting; complimentary cheese & charcuterie from Cailloux Cheese Shop, bottled water, and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass. Only 70 tickets available.

Grand Tasting 2:00-5:00pm - $79

Find your favorites amongst our lineup of artisan winemakers who will be pouring over 150 different wines from 2-5pm. Includes unlimited tastes, complimentary cheese & charcuterie from Cailloux Cheese Shop and bottled water, and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass. Artisan vendors will also be on hand for your sampling and shopping needs.

SATURDAY SEMINAR: 11:00am-12:30pm

“Original Garagistes: A Deep Dive & Tasting with Greg Brewer”

We continue our series with a chat and taste with another Santa Barbara winemaking legend - Greg Brewer (Brewer-Clifton / diatom / Ex Post Facto)

Greg Brewer started his career as a French instructor at UC Santa Barbara before being trained in wine production at Santa Barbara Winery starting in 1991. He created his eponymous label, Brewer-Clifton with original partner Steve Clifton in 1996 and later designed Melville where he worked as winemaker from its' inception in 1997 to the end of 2015. He created his diatom label in 2005 to focus on starkly raised Chardonnay and additionally Ex Post Facto wines in 2016 dedicated to cold climate Syrah. In 2020, Greg was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

The primary focus of his wineries is the pursuit of refinement. He is engaged in all facets of the winemaking process from the vineyards to marketing, giving every level of the process his equal attention. The entirety of his career has been rooted in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, which he helped to map, define and establish in 1997.

This seminar will explore his vision of winemaking and all facets of his 30 career, from start-up to national powerhouse, tasting a number of his flagship wines along the way. A not to be missed discussion with one of the pioneers and current stars of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.

*The seminar is only available as part of the WEEKEND PASS* or Saturday VIP TICKET, which also includes a Wine Country Box Lunch provided by Panino and (1) hour early access to the Grand Tasting & Silent Auction.

Our “All Wine” Silent Auction will be going from 1-4pm and is the ONLY way guests can take home these amazing wines. Don’t miss out on these unique bottles and special offerings from your favorite wineries! All proceeds from the auction support the Garagiste Scholarship Fund at Cal Poly SLO.

Tags

• Wine Festival
• Tasting
• wine country
• santa barbara
• santaynezvalley
• Things to do in Solvang, CA
• California Wine & Food Events
• Solvang Wine & Food Events