SOLD OUT: STARS of California Wine | Wednesday, November 20th

Margerum Wine Company is dedicated to producing small-lot, premium wines sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Santa Barbara County. Nestled in the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley, the winery is located in Buellton, where owner Doug Margerum and winemaker Robert Daugherty craft world-class wines using traditional, hands-on methods. Their facility is meticulously maintained, with temperature-controlled buildings that house tanks, barrels, and a cold room tailored to their production needs, ensuring the highest quality in every bottle.

At Margerum, the focus is on creating wines that express a true sense of place and personality. By embracing nature’s nuances and working on a human scale, the winery strives to produce wines that reflect individuality rather than adhering to the principles of mass production. Every step of the process is intentional—from organic and sustainable farming to hand-punching down red wine fermentations in small open-top fermenters. The use of lees and natural CO2 from fermentation, rather than heavy reliance on sulfur, preserves the purity of the fruit flavors.

Margerum Wine Company invites you to share their thoughtfully crafted wines with family and friends, honoring the tradition of enjoying wine at the table where it belongs. Their wines, made with personal care and attention to detail, are not only a reflection of the land but also of the passion behind each bottle.

Pouring:
Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay, 2021
"M5" White, 2022
Fonte, 2022
Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir, 2021
"M5" Red, 2023

Making Pinot Noir is no joke and neither is moving a vision from concept to reality. Once we settled on our core purpose, the heavy lifting began, drafting all elements of my experience to the project, breathing life into an aesthetic that is worthy of the phenomenal wines we are producing from Sonoma County. Having had the great fortune of experiencing planet Earth through scuba, surf, golf, and an unquenchable thirst for travel, I meditated on the aesthetic aspects of those experiences that manifest joy and tranquility in life. In Fiji, Roatan, Palau, Tahiti, and the Maldives, as an example, I found nature and the ocean to be raw and untouched, yet here my father and I were travelling via first class liveaboard, enjoying five dives a day, exploring terrain unspoiled by humans, while experiencing accommodations at the highest levels of service and perfection. These were stunning experiences that have informed all my endeavors in life. So, naturally, rustic luxury became the centering point from which brand, story, property, and winemaking started and is found today in all that is Croix Estate.

Pouring:
GSM Red Blend, Russian River Valley, 2022
West Pyramid Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2022
Stoetz Ridge Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2022
Narrow Gauge Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, 2022

Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard was the first new winery in the Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition. Dave’s vision to start a winery modeled after a Loire Valley château reintroduced the world to the wines of northern Sonoma County. Dry Creek Vineyard proudly carries the legacy as Dry Creek Valley’s namesake winery and the flagship of our renowned winegrowing region. Today, his daughter Kim Stare Wallace continues to build on these established traditions while innovating for the future. With the second generation firmly at the helm, the stewardship and future of Dry Creek Vineyard has never been brighter!

Pouring:
DCV3 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, 2023
"Petite Zin" Rose, Dry Creek Valley, 2023
Spencer's Hill Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, 2021
Alluvial Gap Meritage, Dry Creek Valley, 2019

In the late 1800s, Bernard Ehlers embarked on an inspiring journey that would shape the destiny of a Napa Valley plot. Recognizing the land's potential for exceptional wines, Bernard, known for his Gold Rush-era tool business, relocated his family in 1885. His vision and appreciation for the terroir led him to purchase the property from a local viticulturalist hit by the phylloxera plague.With unwavering determination, Bernard transformed the land into today's Ehlers Estate, marked by replanted vines, a timeless olive grove, and the iconic winery built in 1886. Beyond Bernard's time, his wife Anna continued his legacy, deftly managing the vineyard after his 1901 passing.Fast-forward a century, a new chapter begins. Inspired by Napa Valley's allure and the legacy of the Ehlers, French industrialists Jean and Sylviane Leducq enter the scene. Passionate about wine and linked to Bordeaux's chateaux, they aimed to revive Ehlers Estate's essence. Acquiring blocks 1-2-3 in 1987, they commenced a vision to reassemble the vineyard's legacy, culminating in the acquisition of blocks 4 and 5, surrounding acreage, and the iconic stone winery building. The result? Discreetly elegant wines that honor French heritage and local terroir.Jean Leducq's journey to Ehlers Estate fulfilled a lifelong dream. Driven by a vision transcending borders, Napa Valley became the canvas for wines aligned with his ideals. His commitment to quality and hospitality became Ehlers Estate's pillars.Sylviane, his wife, a gracious hostess and decision-maker, left an indelible mark. Her influence resonates throughout Ehlers Estate's ethos.With Jean and Sylviane's passing, their legacy lives on. The Leducq Charitable Trust, founded in 1996, embraced Ehlers Estate. The property embodies values of generosity, elegance, and excellence. Their enduring vision, coupled with philanthropic work, shapes Ehlers Estate's heart and soul.Today, we honor Bernard's legacy, Jean and Sylviane's aspirations, and steward Ehlers Estate into a promising future. Embracing innovation, we preserve essence and reach for the stars. This narrative, anchored in legacy and aspiration, we proudly share with you. (800) 282-4797

Pouring:
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021
'Portrait' Proprietary Bland, Napa, 2022
'1886' Cabernet Sauvignon, Saint Helena, 2021

Moraga Vineyards is one of the most unique wine estates in California. Located at a 550-900 foot elevation in the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Angeles community of Bel Air, the winery and vineyard is the source of remarkably refined wines that perfectly reflect a union of distinctive terroir and the gentle guidance of focused winemaking. The property is owned by Rupert Murdoch.

The property was originally the home of Victor Fleming, director of Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Fleming created a horse ranch on the property and used it through the 1930s and 1940s as a retreat and a secluded venue to host his friends.

In 1959, Tom and Ruth Jones purchased the property. After living on the estate for 20 years, Tom, the longtime CEO of Northrop Corporation, decided to plant grapevines. It was the steeply sloped hillsides and the gravelly and calcareous soils on the property that inspired them to plant vineyards as it reminded them of Bordeaux where they often travelled.

Pouring:
Sauvignon Blanc, California, 2021
Sauvignon Blanc, California, 2011
Bordeaux Blend, California, 2019
Bordeaux Blend, California, 2012

Nestled at nearly 3,000 feet in the Ojai mountains, Ojai Mountain vineyard is a biodynamically farmed and family-owned estate. Praised by Wine Enthusiast as “one of the more interesting estates in California,” it produces small-batch, artisan wines that reflect the rugged beauty of its surroundings.
Winemaker Erich Bradley, drawn by the unique terroir, emphasizes minimal intervention, using native yeasts and neutral French barriques to highlight the mountaintop-influenced tannins.
Committed to biodynamic farming, the estate integrates natural pest control through birds of prey. Several rehabilitated birds from the Ojai Raptor Center have made their permanent home here. This organic approach ensures healthier vines and higher-quality grapes.

Pouring:
White Blend, 2022
Red Blend, 2021
Syrah, 2021

Our intent at ONX Wines is to farm sustainably, organically, craft artfully, and host graciously. We are a small family-owned winery specializing in blends. We are located on the Central Coast.

Pouring:
Field Day Sauvignon Blanc, ONX Estate Vineyard, Templeton Gap District, 2023
Noble Intrigue, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley AVA, 2020
Reckoning, ONX Estate Vineyard, Templeton Gap District, 2020

Opolo is a family-owned, sustainable winery located in the coastal mountains of the Willow Creek District in Paso Robles. Founded by two friends in 1999, Opolo has since become a cornerstone of the Paso Robles experience, producing widely acclaimed estate wines and gaining renown for its warm hospitality and legendary wine club. Opolo today makes an array of notable wines, including the iconic Mountain Zinfandel.

Pouring:
Albariño, 2023
Summit Creek Red Blend, NV
Summit Creek Merlot, 2022
Summit Creek Zinfandel, 2022
Summit Creek Cabernet, 2023
Estate Cabernet, 2022
Mountain Zinfandel, 2022

At Piedrasassi we primarily cultivate and vinify Syrah, a variety with which winemaker Sashi Moorman has worked for over two decades. Today, the viticultural heritage of the Northern Rhone and the pioneering ethos of the Central Coast equally inform his engagement with Syrah.

We do not shy away from experimentation, but our work is always in the service of the same principles: Piedrasassi is committed to ecological responsibility and the health of our patrons; our wines are structured to unfurl with age, to share with each passing year a new facet of a time and place; and wine must show up at the dinner table — that is, its most complete expression should be apparent alongside food and in good company.

Pouring:
Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah, Santa Maria Valley, 2021

VINEYARDS on the EDGE OF THE PACIFICRed Car is a small farming and winemaking operation based in Sebastopol and rooted in some of the most unique AVAs and vineyards in all of California. In 2005 we planted our Estate Vineyard in Fort Ross-Seaview and for over two decades have dedicated our lives to producing site-specific, balanced wines of exceptional quality, bright fruit, complex aromatics, and moderate alcohol. Together, our team farms and produces Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Old Vine Cabernet from 6 unique vineyards all within 10 miles of the Pacific Ocean. A combined passion for hospitality, a taste for hard work, and a steadfast dedication to the craft of winemaking define who we are and the wines we make.Life is a journey. get on the Red Car.

Pouring:
Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, 2021
Rose of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2023
Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast, 2021
Pinot Noir, Heaven & Earth, Sonoma Coast, 2021
Syrah, Sonoma Coast, 2019

Perfecting the old California classics, Robert Biale Vineyards has become a revered standard of heritage vineyard Zinfandel and Petite Sirah in the Napa Valley. From the winery’s inception, the Biale Founders have cherished the tradition of historic old vines (some dating to the 1880s!) and prize the small quantity of concentrated and intense fruit that they produce. Diligent farming, expressive terroir, and superb elegance are the winery’s hallmarks. Among the winery’s portfolio of 20 wines that Winemaker David Natali crafts, Black Chicken Zinfandel is the flagship–and has become a benchmark for the varietal.

Pouring:
Clementina Greco Bianco, 2023
Black Chicken Zinfandel, 2022
Royal Punishers Petite Sirah, 2022
Royal Punisher Petite Sirah, 2022

Robert (Bob) Foley began his winemaking career in the Napa Valley in 1977, having graduated from UC Davis with degrees in both Viticulture and Enology. He spent his first year working for Heitz Cellars, followed by 15 years as the founding winemaker for Markham Vineyards. In 1992 Bob began another 15 years as the founding winemaker for Pride Mountain Vineyards, and during this period he also created the highly acclaimed Switchback Ridge, Hourglass, Paloma, School House, and Engel Family wines. He now focuses on Robert Foley Vineyards, and is also the winemaker for Padis Vineyards and JennaMarise.

In 1998 Robert Foley Vineyards bottled its flagship Claret and has since expanded and diversified its production to offer more of the big reds Bob is famous for – Petite Sirah, Merlot, Charbono, the limited-release Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Howell Mountain Merlot from our estate property, a Carneros Pinot Noir, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, The Griffin (red blend) and a Syrah that we call Kelly's Cuvée.

The winery is located on Napa County’s Howell Mountain, where more than 1,500 barrels are housed in an extensive cave system (completed in 2008) for the production of Robert Foley wines. Our tasting room is open by appointment only, and is nothing fancy. It's all about the wine and not the show!

Pouring:
Charbono Napa Valley, 2020
Pinot Noir Carneros, Napa Valley, 2017
Merlot Napa Valley, 2018
Claret Napa Valley, 2017
Robert Foley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 2018

Over the past two decades, visionary winemaker Matthias Pippig has showcased his creative expertise by crafting exceptional Rhône and Bordeaux varietals under the Sanguis label. In a recent expansion, he has introduced three additional labels, each specializing in a unique discipline:

-The Missoula Flood for methode-champenoise effervescent wines from Washington’s Columbia Gorge
-Loner for Sta. Rita Pinot Noir
-Whale Song for cool-climate, high-elevation Chardonnay from Pacific vineyards With a combined annual production of around 2,500 cases, these small-batch labels of the Sanguis Collection share a unified philosophy—that a bottle of wine's primary responsibility is to be delicious, vibrant, and balanced. Noteworthy aspects of production include exceptional care for the vineyards, native fermentation, whole-cluster utilization for reds, and a restraint in the cellar. Succinctly, these wines are artisanal and brimming with personality.

A native of Munich Germany, Matthias got his start in the restaurant/hospitality industry where his passion for wine began, Matthias worked in wine imports and distribution, and helped build several large-scale companies in the food manufacturing space for, notably including Nancy Silverton’s La Brea Bakery, as head of sales, marketing, and business development.

Pouring:
WhaleSong Chardonnay "Ambergris", John Sebastiano Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, 2022
Loner Pinot Noir "Mysterious Charm of Old Ruins"John Sebastiano Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, 2022
Sanguis Grenache "Verve" Santa Ynez Valley 2021
Sanguis Cabernet Franc "The Highlands" Santa Ybez Valley, 2021
Sanguis Cabernet Sauvignon "Songs Without Words" Santa Ynez Valley, 2019

Sandhi is a small-production winery sourcing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from select vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. After searching up and down the California coast, we settled on a narrow slice along Santa Rosa Road for the verve, balance and effortless Pacific breezes of these sites. It has been our belief that only together can we fully express them.

It was this place–tucked along the southern Central Coast of California, an hour’s drive to any major city but only ten miles from the ocean–that captivated Rajat Parr as a young sommelier two decades ago.

Pouring:
Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay, 2022
Patterson Vineyard Chardonnay, Sta Rita Hills, 2022
Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir, 2022

Established in 2014, The Setting is a collection of luxury wines created by three friends; Jeff Cova, Noah McMahon and winemaker Jesse Katz. As the first winemaker to make the Forbes “30 under 30” list, Jesse’s experience spans 19 harvests at internationally acclaimed wineries such as Chateau Petrus, Robert Foley, and was a part of the winemaking team at Screaming Eagle. The Setting Wines is a culmination of relationships spanning decades from Napa to Sonoma County, sourcing from some of the most prestigious vineyards both valleys have to offer.We hope our wines will inspire great moments with the people you love the most, in surroundings you treasure. We invite you to enjoy the art of pairing the right wine with the right setting.

Pouring:
Sauvignon Blanc, Barrel Fermented, Sonoma County, 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley, 2020
Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard, Rockpile, Sonoma County, 2021

Singer Baker Lane Estate is located within the Sebastopol Hills of West Sonoma County. Our vineyard is a cool climate, west facing site with undulating hillside contours, one exclusively planted to Syrah and Viognier.When we began developing the property in 2002, this region was already in to its transition from apple production to a vanguard perch in the quest for cooler terroirs that could yield wines of energy, depth of flavor and freshness. While we didn’t know how exactly northern Rhone varietals might fare in this Pinot Noir dominant zone, we knew that we were committed to doing whatever we could to achieving the best possible outcome. Guided by our gifted viticulturist and winemaker, Greg Adams, we were poised to capitalize on the flavor potential that dynamically cultivated Syrah and Viognier vines could produce in the long growing season we experience here. Through twenty harvests our commitment has been rewarded by an impressive succession of wines that show varietal tipicity, a distinct and detailed flavor personality, and fine ageability.In 2019, we shifted to our current project wherein we are making a much smaller amount of wine, focusing just on our very best sectors of vines and aiming for the most elaborate and characterful expression that they can achieve. The ‘reserve’ type wines that we now produce also feature an annually changing example of our other passion, paintings produced in our on-site studio. In every which way, it’s all about the place.

Pouring:
Viognier, 2022
Syrah, 2021

It all started with an earthquake. In 1906 after the great San Francisco earthquake, a huge demand for workers to rebuild the city brought Joseph Ponti, Steve’s great uncle, from Italy to San Francisco. Shortly thereafter, Ponti became the superintendent and initial winemaker at the iconic Beaulieu Vineyards in Rutherford, where he stayed for 43 years. He made the first internationally recognized Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. In 1939 it won a gold medal at the Golden Gate International Exposition for his 1936 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Since that time, Cabernet Sauvignon has become synonymous with Rutherford and Napa Valley. Ponti’s nephew, Steve’s grandfather, Louis Tonella, joined his uncle at Beaulieu when he was just 17 and worked there for several years. Eventually, Louis inherited the Ponti vineyard located in the Rutherford viticulture region.Grape growing and wine production have always been a part of our family history, a heritage and spirit we proudly carry forward through S. R. Tonella Cellars. Our purpose is simply to make history by crafting the best premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals that represent the best of Rutherford and Napa Valley. S. R. Tonella Cellars aspiration is that our wine is shared to create some small but memorable piece of history with everyone who crosses paths with us.

Pouring:
Semillon Reserve, 2022
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021
BDX Proprietary Blend, 2021

Thomas’ entrance into the wine industry was sparked during a 1999 wine tasting trip to the Burgundy wine region in France. At the time he was a senior financial executive for a large biotechnology company and prior to going on that tasting trip, Thomas never dreamed of owning his own vineyards or making wine. It was that wine tasting trip in 1999 that altered his dreams, and led him to chart a new course in life… a life in the wine industry as a vintner. With this new found enthusiasm driving him forward, in 2001, Thomas was able to purchase a 36-acre parcel of land to begin the process of constructing that new future.

Located in The Anderson Valley, a cool climate wine appellation in south western Mendocino County, Thomas T Thomas Vineyards began in 2008 with Thomas planting a 3-acre pinot noir vineyard. Also, in 2008, Thomas built a winery next to the vineyards, with the understanding that one day he would produce and store his own wine there. From 2011 until 2017, Thomas was a grape grower only, then in 2017, Thomas decided to take a small portion of his grape production to create his own wine brand; A decision that was always part of his long-range plans. Starting in 2018, Thomas stopped selling his grapes to third party wineries and now he takes 100% of his production for his own brand. Currently, Thomas makes four different pinot noir wines, where three wines are produced from 100% estate fruit and the fourth wine has a mix of non-estate fruit. Starting with the 2020 vintage, Thomas added a Chardonnay wine offering, which he sources from quality vineyards in Anderson Valley and recently, Thomas has planted a parcel of estate chardonnay.

In his short time as a vintner, Thomas’ wines consistently score 90+ points by several major wine magazines and has won multiple Platinum and Gold medals from major International Wine Competitions. His 2017 Anderson Valley Reserve Pinot Noir was chosen as the Wine of the Year at the 2021 Monterey International Wine Competition and his 2018 Anderson Valley Reserve Pinot Noir was awarded the John Parducci Award and Best Red Wine Mendocino County at the 2021 Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition.

Pouring:
T Anderson Valley Chardonnay, 2020
Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, 2019
Reserve Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, 2018

Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by former emergency room physician Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 different wines from over 50 vineyards across California, primarily Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, with many vines dating back to the late 1800s. By farming organically and focusing on old vine vineyards of these varieties, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.

Pouring:
Zinfandel Rose, California, 2023
"Juvenile" Zinfandel, California, 2022
"Kirschenmann Vineyard" Zinfandel, Lodi, 2022
"Pesenti Vineyard" Zinfandel, Paso Robles, 2022
"Estate Vineyard" Zinfandel, Napa Valley, 2022

Since 2005, proprietor and winemaker Justin Willett has been crafting wines of nuance and delicacy from Santa Barbara County. A native son of Santa Barbara, Justin’s journey as a winemaker is a remarkable story, having grown Tyler Winery to become a globally recognized brand with wines gracing restaurant lists and cellars worldwide.Justin is also the winemaker and founding partner of Lieu Dit, a brand he established in 2011 that focuses specifically on varieties indigenous to the Loire Valley, now grown in Santa Barbara County. In the past, he has partnered with Etienne de Montille of Domaine de Montille in Burgundy and Rodolphe Peters of Champagne Pierre Peters to establish Racines in the Santa Rita Hills.More recently, Justin has partnered with friends in the acquisition of the beloved Fiddlestix Vineyard, giving Tyler two estate vineyards and the ability to celebrate the nuances of the Santa Rita Hills region and its two corridors.

Pouring:
Mae Estate Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills, 2022
Mae Estate Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, 2022
Fiddlestix Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, 2022

Early admission to the tasting with oysters and caviar plus the 7pm tray pass. Taste all night until 9:30 with food being tray passed all night… but a heavier set of food for our 6:30 arrivals.

FIRST WAVE 'HORS D'OEURVES'
Oysters & kaluga caviar
Eggs on Toast with truffle
Brillat Savarin Gougeres with black truffle
Potato Chips with kaluga caviar

From 7pm to 9:30 enjoy assorted tray pass appetizers and taste over 50 wines from all the visiting wineries.  A silent auction will benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

7 O'CLOCK TRAY PASS
Lobster Roll, lemon, celery 
Corn Beignets, tarragon aioli
Goat Cheese Croquettes, honey, almond
Potato Chips with Steak Tartare and Mustard Tarragon
Potato Chips with labneh and Cucumber (vegan)

Toast Five(5) Ways with...
Bluefin Tuna Tartare with Caviar
Soft Scrambled Eggs, Santa Barbara Uni
Stracciatella, cherries, balsamico
Avocado, sungold tomato, cilantro (vegan)
Smoked Salmon Rillette, roe, dill, horseradish

Squash Agnolotti, brown butter, parmesan
Black Truffle Risotto, acquerello carnaroli rice
Arugula Mezze Maniche, wild californian mushroom
Red Wine Braised Short Rib, anson mills polenta
Wood Fire Roasted Market Vegetables

Taste all the wines, limited food will be provided.
[We suggest eating prior to arrival]