SOLD OUT! Starlane Winery Visit + Dierberg Tasting Room

Happy New Year Everyone!

Meridith and I are thrilled to announce our next wine tasting/educational experience will be at both Star Lane Vineyard and the Dierberg Vineyard tasting room on Saturday, February 10th.

Star Lane is easily the most impressive winery outside of Napa or Europe. We know of only 2 gravity-flow wineries in our area (Presqu'ile being the other). Star Lane is the only one to have subterranean wine caves (*see note below on why this is important). Winemaker Tyler Thomas apprenticed with famed winemaker Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (an estate winery in the Burgundy village of Vosne-Romanée that produces wines from 5 Grand Cru vineyards).

From the winery:
"Star Lane Vineyard is the premier wine estate in the Happy Canyon appellation, which is the most important new appellation for Cabernet Sauvignon in America. The estate is open on a limited basis and by appointment only. Planted to two-hundred acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties by the Dierberg family in 1998, Star Lane Vineyard is a family-owned and operated estate that is under its second generation of family leadership. The majestic gravity-flow winery at Star Lane Vineyard is also home to the only subterranean wine caves in Santa Barbara County. For the past decade, winemaking has been led by Tyler Thomas—who apprenticed with Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti fame at the renowned Hyde de Villaine project in Napa Valley. The estate’s flagship and limited-production Astral Cabernet has garnered praise from the critics, being described as “endowed with superb richness in every dimension.” Says Jeb Dunnuck, “Star Lane Vineyard is straight-up pure class.”

Carpooling to the Star Lane winery is mandatory. Attendees will get directions and lunch menu.

The world-class Dierberg Vineyard pinot noir and chardonnay are produced under Tyler from estate grapes that grow in Dierburg's Sta. Rita Hills AVA Drum Canyon vineyards.

Tasting menu:
2023 Star Lane Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc

2020 Dierberg Drum Canyon Vineyard Chardonnay: 94 Points! -- Vinous. "Tangerine oil, lemon confit, mint, honeysuckle and apricot fill out the layers in a dramatic, structured Chardonnay loaded with personality."

2019 Dierberg Drum Canyon Vineyard Pinot Noir. "A recent opening revealed an ever available and complex aroma profile backed by a highly structured and serious mouth feel with plenty of depth and substance to support that structure. It is only now that the wine seems ready to show and emerge and it should last for quite some time." --Tyler Thomas

2019 Star Lane Happy Canyon Merlot

2019 Star Lane Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon: 92 Points! -- Vinous. "This medium-body, savory Cabernet checks all the right boxes. It is quite impressive in this tasting!" -- Antonio Galloni

2017 Star Lane ASTRAL Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon: 92 Points! -- Wine Enthusiast. "There's an elegance to the nose of this bottling that combines charred wood with purple flowers and boysenberry jam. It's still very structured and somewhat rigid on the palate, where espresso bean flavors meet with black currant, charred beef and light mint. --Matt Kettmann

*What makes a gravity-flow winery special? Wine made on one floor means that it needs to be moved from crusher or press to barrel or tank or barrel, often using pumps. Excessive handling can lead to overly extracted or oxidized wine. The Starlane winery is built on the side of a hill. The trucks bring the grapes to the top where they are pressed and the juice flows down to the next level, using gravity.

What makes subterranean wine caves special? From the producer's viewpoint, subterranean wine aging and storage omits the need for expensive cooling or mechanical control of humidity. From the consumer's viewpoint, visiting a wine cave is a unique and memorable exploration!

Food and wine menus to be announced. Directions will be given to members who RSVP. No refunds after midnight February 7th because we need to prepay our vendors, but you can give or sell your ticket to anyone 21 years of age or older. 30 attendees maximum.