Wine, music, food at Courthouse

 

Santa Barbara County premium wines, gourmet food and fine music will grace the landmark Santa Barbara County courthouse on Friday evening at a Wine Futures event.

More than 80 wines from 35 top local wineries will be offered for tasting and purchase, from 6:30 - 9 p.m. Gourmet foods to complement the wines will be presented by Elements restaurant, and live classical music will be played.

More than 20 future release Pinot Noirs will be available to taste, including Sea Smoke and Tantara. Some 15 future release Syrahs from area wineries will be on hand, as well as local Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Grenache and Merlot.

 

“They’re all award-winners,” said Andy Winchester, owner of Elements Restaurant and Catering. “To have the opportunity to purchase wines that haven’t been released from these prestigious wineries makes this event a real treat for wine lovers.”

Participating wineries include Ampelos, Arcadian, Badge, Barrack, Beckman, Brander, Cambria, Cargasacchi, Carhartt, Carina, Carr, Chien, Cimarone, Cold Heaven, Cora, Curran, Demetria, DiBruno, Dierberg, Drew, Flying Goat, Foley, Io, Ken Brown, Kenneth-Crawford, Kunin, Margerum, Prodigal, Qupe, Sea Smoke, Summerland, Tantara, Tercero and Whitcraft.

 

Winchester said that although the wines were selected for the serious collector, they will be ready for consumption within the next few years.

“It is important to note that this will be your only access to most of these wines, since they are not sold on a retail basis and production levels are down up to 40 percent due to weather conditions,” he said. Tickets are $90 and may be purchased online at http://www.elementsrestaurantandbar.com. A portion of the proceeds will go to the restoration of the Granada Theatre.