Get Sideways in Santa Barbara County at Garagiste Festival 2/8 and at World of Pinot Noir Feb. 28

After a dry January (in more ways than one), I’m ready for a WET February! How about you? Tis the season for wine festivals and festivities and yes I am here for it! Here’s a few events on my radar — including a series of creativity workshops I’m leading that are inspired by books and include guided wine tastings! 

First, Feb. 8! Who’s headed to the Garagiste Festival in Solvang?  Vintners from the Santa Barbara area and beyond will gather to share their wines there at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall, a truly lovely historic building.

As I’ve written before, a Garagiste once was a derogatory French term for someone who made small batches of wine in their garage– an amateur.

You’ll find Larry at Garagiste (and Rhone Rangers in March!)

Today we know Garagistes who are beginners while others are at the top of their game — making wine for someone else, with a passion project on the side that they share at the Garagiste. Others Garagistes are primarily wine grape growers who spend most of their time tending their vines, but they have a side project with some of their grapes — or their neighbors– that they are excited to share. 

• One special aspect of the Garagiste Festivals (yes, there’s more than one– in fact there’s four held in different parts of California) is that you get to meet the Garagiste him or herself — or the partners making the wine.
• A second special aspect is that these wines are small lots, and sometimes really unusual grapes that you don’t see at the supermarket.
• A third reason to seek out the Garagiste Festivals is that most of these wines you can’t find anywhere else — these winemakers are too small to have a tasting room although sometimes they will pour at special events where the wines are made (no most of them are NOT making the wines in their garages but at professional facilities just not always their own). 
• Finally, fourth, it’s affordable for how much wine you get to taste– plus food! 

Staysail purchased April 2024 at the Garagiste in Sonoma Silent Auction

Saturday’s Grand Tasting features 30 winemakers pouring, plus a Silent Wine Auction so you can bid on wines to take home with you; read about these I won from Staysail. Kick off Saturday with a Q&A and Pinot Noir tasting with Sideways Uncorked authors and a special tribute to the film Sideways filmed 20 years ago in the area. 

Tickets are available here. Can’t make this one? Calendar these: Northern Exposure in Sonoma on April 26^th; Urban Exposure in Los Angeles on June 21^st, and the original Garagiste Festival in Paso Robles on November 7^th and 8.

Dusty Nabor pours at Garagiste and WOPN

Also on Feb. 8, if you’re passing through Ventura on your way home after Garagiste or nearby, stop at Bell Arts on Ventura Ave. across from Verovino to check out gauvin’s show which includes a piece from my art collection, AND be sure to stop by nearby Art City on Dubbers to support David Oliver’s “Orbs” Burning Man project. Now that’s a fun party that will go all night!

Robin Wall Kimmerer

“I wish I could take one of your classes!” Well, get ready to uncork your creativity! 

Starting Weds. Feb. 12 I will be putting on my “teacher” hat. I’ve been a college teacher for many years, and people have asked me to teach writing, or poetry, or literature, or wine classes. With the opening of the new Buenaventura Art Association’s Art Center in the Ventura Harbor, those wishes will come true with a new series I am presenting that uses a different book each month to inspire us in our writing, our discussions — and the wines too with each event featuring a different winery and a guided tasting. This unique series combines literary expression with thoughtful discussions. Through guided tastings, workshops, and collaborative exercises, we will explore themes of culture, history, and creativity, all while savoring exquisite wines, all with a local to Ventura connection.

UPDATE: It has been decided to remove the wine tasting from the Literary Salon series, and to reduce the price to $25 with no materials fee. BYOB!