Wine & Fire 2024
August 15 - 18, 2024
Get ready for the hottest wine event on the Central Coast!
August 15th - 18th visit Sta. Rita Hills wineries and tasting rooms for four days of festivities. Tickets are very limited and on sale now as individual events or as a Wine and Fire Combo Ticket.
See details below!
Barn Party Kickoff
Thursday, August 15
5pm-8pm
Our Wine & Fire festivities will kick-off at the historic Sanford & Benedict Barn which was home to the first winery in the Sta. Rita Hills. This event features large format and library wines poured by our winemakers. Enjoy fire grilled flatbreads and cheese tables by Bello Forno. You won't want to miss this opening event of Wine and Fire.
Location: Sanford Winery & Vineyards
5010 Santa Rosa Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436
Honoring Hitching Post Wines
Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini,
Our 2024 Vintners of the Year
La Paulée dinner
Friday, August 16
5:30pm-9:30pm
Our La Paulée Dinner will be honoring our Vintners of the Year. A sparkling wine reception will start the evening and be followed by a delicious BBQ dinner by High on the Hog catering. Wines for the dinner tables will be hosted by member wineries, but in the spirit of La Paulée guests are encouraged to bring their special bottles to share at their dinner table.
Location: Babcock Winery
5175 CA-246, Lompoc, CA 93436
Speed Tasting
Saturday AM, August 17
9:30am-12:30pm
Speed Tasting with a Winemaker is an opportunity to talk with the participating winemakers while tasting their wines. The winemakers rotate to a different table every ten minutes giving guests an opportunity to have focused conversations with 8 of our winemakers. A casual lunch prepared by the Hitching Post will be served at the conclusion of the speed tasting.
Location: Hitching Post Restaurant
406 East Hwy 246, Buellton
Grand Tasting
Saturday, August 17
5:00pm-8:00pm
Enjoy a magical evening under the oaks at La Purisima Mission sipping fine Sta. Rita Hills wines, snacking on tasty treats, and mingling with smiling faces! Our members and chefs are excited to welcome you to our favorite tasting event of the year. Tickets are very limited, order now so you don't miss out. As an added bonus your ticket includes a passport ticket too!
Our favorite local Chefs and food vendors will be serving up local specialties!
Location: La Purisima Mission
2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc 93436
Sunday Funday - Make it your own! Check with your favorite winery for special events or enjoy the benefits of our weekend passport (Wine and Fire Passport -August 15th - 18th / $40.00).
Visit our participating tasting rooms and enjoy 2-for-1 tasting benefits. A Passport is included in the price of the Weekend combo tickets and Grand Tasting tickets.
Plan your visits as days and hours may vary.
Sunday Funday
Sunday, August 18
Wine and Fire Combo Ticket
Our Combo Weekend package includes tickets to all the fun including:
• Thursday night Barn Party at Sanford & Benedict Barn
• Friday night La Paulée Dinner at Babcock Winery
• Saturday morning Speed Tasting with a Winemaker
• Saturday evening Grand Tasting at La Purisima Mission
• Complimentary weekend Passport to visit our tasting rooms
$440 Limited Availability
Individual Event Tickets
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Barn Party Kick-off
Thursday, August 15th
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Sanford & Benedict Barn
$100 Early Bird Price ends July 15
$125 after July 15Kick off the weekend with our annual "Barn Party". This event features large format and library wines poured by our winemakers. Enjoy fire-grilled flatbreads and cheese tables by Bello Forno.
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La Paulée Style Dinner
Friday, August 16th
5:30pm - 9:30pm
Babcock Winery
$175 per personOur La Paulée Dinner will be honoring our Vintner of the Year. A sparkling wine reception will start the evening, followed by a delicious BBQ dinner by High on the Hog catering. Tables will be hosted by member wineries, but in the spirit of La Paulée guests are encouraged to bring their special bottles to share at their dinner table.
-
Speed Tasting with a Winemaker
Saturday, August 17th
9:30am – 12:00pm
Hitching Post II Restaurant
$75 Early Bird Price ends July 15
$95 after July 15The winemakers rotate to a different table every ten minutes giving guests an opportunity to have focused conversations with 8 of our winemakers. A casual lunch prepared by the Hitching Post will be served at the conclusion of the speed tasting.
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Grand Tasting at the Mission
Saturday, August 17th
5:00pm - 8:00pm
$120 Early Bird ends July 15
$150 after July 15Enjoy a magical evening under the oaks at La Purisima Mission sipping Sta. Rita Hills wines, snacking on tasty treats, and mingling with smiling faces! Our favorite local Chefs and food vendors will be serving up local specialties!
Tickets are very limited. As an added bonus, your ticket includes a passport ticket too!
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Wine and Fire Passport
Valid August 15th - 18th
$40Visit our participating tasting rooms and enjoy 2-for-1 tasting benefits.
A Passport is included in the price of the Weekend combo tickets and Grand Tasting tickets.
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Shuttle Tickets
$35 per event
Shuttle tickets available from 3 Lompoc Hotels for the Barn Party, the La Paulée Dinner, and our Grand Tasting at La Purisima Mission.
Pick up at the following Lompoc Hotels: The Hilton Garden Inn, The Embassy Suites, and O’Cairns Inn & Suites.
Wine & Fire Gallery
WINE & FIRE 2022
Past VINTNERS OF THE YEAR
Previous Wine & Fire
2023 Vintner of the Year
Ken Brown,
Ken Brown Wines
Ken began his journey at Zaca Mesa Winery as head winemaker in 1977 and found Byron Vineyard & Winery in 1984. Passionate about Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, he was also the first winemaker to introduce Syrah to the area. In 2004, he launched his namesake label, Ken Brown Wines, focusing on premium vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills to craft beautiful, small-production Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.
2022 Vintner of the Year
Rick Longoria, Longoria Wines
Rick and his wife, Diana, have been an integral part of the Santa Barbara wine community for 40 years. He began his journey in the 1970s and started his eponymous brand, Longoria, in 1982. In 1998, he planted their estate Fe Ciega Vineyard near the cool western end of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. As a pioneer, a mentor and an outstanding vintner, Rick raised the bar for quality wines in the region.
2021 Vintner of the Year
Bryan Babcock, Babcock Winery
Bryan was instrumental in the creation of our Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Babcock Vineyard was planted in 1979, and Bryan has pushed the limits in farming and production all along the way. Additionally, he has mentored many giving us the next generation of great winemakers. Creative and experimental in all things wine, Bryan is a true leader in our AVA.
2020 Vintner of the Year
Richard Sanford, Alma Rosa Winery
Richard Sanford is an icon in the Sta. Rita Hills. The original “Pioneer” he planted the first vineyard on Santa Rosa Road in 1971, Sanford and Benedict, and the rest is history.
2019 Vintner of the Year
Bruce McGuire, Lafond Winery
Making wine for Santa Barbara Winery since 1981, Bruce is a legendary winemaker who championed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Sta. Rita Hills. He currently is head winemaker for both Santa Barbara and Lafond wineries.
2018 Vintner of the Year
Kathy Joseph, Fiddlehead Cellars
Kathy is recognized as a pioneer among women winemakers as she passionately and enthusiastically creates stylistic Sauvignon Blanc and silky, textural Pinot Noir. At Fiddlehead, she annually produces about 5,000 cases of wine, with personal interest in each grape cluster, each barrel of wine and every bottle that finds its way to your table.