Lunch/Wine Tasting w El Lugar Winemaker at The Petal Club

El Lugar winemaker Coby Parker Garcia has been knocking it out of the park with his exquisite pinot noir, being lauded with big scores from Wine Enthusiast, including three 94 point wins. Join us to taste his award-winning wines, handcrafted from the premium Bien Nacido, Hilliard Bruce, Rincon, Greengate, and Spanish Springs vineyards.

We'll meet at The Petal Club just south of San Luis Obispo for the tasting and lunch. This cute venue is filled with flowers, being a shop for fresh floral arrangements and flower workshops.

After graduating from Cal Poly State University, Coby worked as assistant winemaker for Claiborne & Churchill. Winemaker/owner Clay Thompson taught him European winemaking techniques that emphasized minimal manipulation of both fruit and wine. Coby continued his education with classes at the University of California Davis which is one of the world's best. In 2007, Coby was promoted to head winemaker at Claiborne & Churchill. He had a dream of creating vineyard-designate, small-lot pinot noir, thus El Lugar was born.

Inside Wine Santa Barbara has been fortunate to have had several opportunities to taste with Coby over the last few years. His wines get better every year! (And his increasingly bigger scores attest to this.)

Here's our terrific tasting menu:
2017 Spanish Springs Pinot Noir
91 Points! “ A lighter yet beautiful shade in the glass, this bottling starts with aromas of Bing cherry and pomegranate that are cut by freshly chopped game and smoke. There are earthy tones to the palate, but the focus is crisp and tart cranberry fruit." - Wine Enthusiast (usual retail $48)

2017 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir
93 Points! “ The palate is full, with flavors of pomegranate, red plum, oregano and cracked pepper, making for a deep and layered sip.” - Wine Enthusiast (usual retail $48)

2017 Hilliard Bruce Pinot Noir
91 Points! “ Dark-cherry and dark earth aromas kick off the nose of this bottling, which warms up toward concentrated boysenberry with patience. The palate is awash in ripe berries along with turned earth and crumbled sagebrush flavors.” - Wine Enthusiast (usual retail $48)

2017 Rincon Pinot Noir
91 Points! “Light in color, this bottling begins with bright and rusty aromas of red cherry, vanilla and slight caramel, proving quite inviting.” - Wine Enthusiast (usual retail $48)

2017 Spanish Springs Syrah
Notes to follow. (usual retail $52)

Join us by RSVPing today, I need the count for lunch by Friday, January 3. No tickets at the door.

We'll have our usual dessert competition: bring a dessert to share—the winner for "Best Dessert" by popular vote will win a bottle of El Lugar Pinot Noir!

You can attend just this tasting if you can't make the other parts to our Wine Weekend. The Petal Club is on the road between Edna Valley and San Luis Obispo. Make a day of it and visit Edna Valley on the way to our tasting! It's a beautiful drive.

These are the parts to our Wine Weekend experience. Join us for all events or just this tasting:

1. Jan. 4th at 11 am: Wine tasting with El Lugar's Coby Parker Garcia at The Petal Club.
2. Jan. 4th evening: Special discount stay in executive suites at the La Quinta Inn & Resort (https://www.meetup.com/Inside-Wine-Santa-Barbara/events/267380186/)
3. Jan. 4th evening:Sensorio art (https://www.meetup.com/Inside-Wine-Santa-Barbara/events/267197855/)
4. Jan. 5th at 11 am: Lunch and winemaker wine tasting at Ancient Peaks: https://www.meetup.com/Inside-Wine-Santa-Barbara/events/267044336/

Looking forward to seeing you! Tama