Wine Country Pics  

2007 DINNER AT HEARST CASTLE

Every July, the Central Coast Wine Classic has four days of dining, tasting, auctions, etc..  One of the most impressive of this, or any other wine event, is the Dinner at Hearst Castle.  A black tie event, at the foot of the castle, overlooking Neptune Pool (where champagne and appetizers start the evening).  We take the photos documenting the preparation and presentation of the dinner--at least the last 12 hours of it.  The preparation actually begins a couple weeks in advance.  Those photos--be prepared, there are 223--can be seen here.

VINTNERS' SPRING FESTIVAL 2007 

Each Spring and Fall, the local vintners' have a festival where all the members (nearly 100) pour their wines and local restaurants offer samples of their food.  In case you didn't attend, you can get a sense of it here.  For future reference, you can check the SBCVA out here.  

  BRANDER BOUILLABAISSE FESTIVAL 2006

Every other year, or so, Brander sponsors a Bouillabaisse Festival to benefit a local charity.  Twenty restaurants are invited to compete in three categories--classic bouillabaisse, ciopino and open fish stew.  About the same same number of local wineries pur their Rose wine, the traditional wine to drink with bouillabaisse.  We were there to take pictures.  For more info, go directly to the Brander web site.

SPRING @ FIDDLESTIX

Kathy Joseph, proprietor/winemaker of Fiddlestix, has her vineyard in the middle of the Santa Rita Hills, on Santa Rosa Road, a stones throw from the original Sanford & Benedict vineyard.  When Spring comes, the vines are bright green, the mustard bright yellow and all around are lovely wild flowers.  In lieu of climbing the hills, kneeling and lying on the dirt and leaning over vines, poles etc to take shots, you might check what we took here.

  BRANDER SAUVIGNON BLANC BOTTLING

Although harvest time is the most dramatic time in the wine country--and clearly the most tiring, with 16 hour days the norm--there is something going on all year: pruning, leafing, racking, bottling.  These are photos from the Sauvignon Bottling at Brander, in the Spring.  The mobile bottling truck comes up, opens up sides and is ready for business.  You can get a flavor of it here.  For photos from other Brander events or to learn about their wine, check them out here. 

  WINE & FIRE 2007

Probably the most intensive wine event for the public in Santa Barbara is Wine & Fire.  Held in June, it combines a group of seminars--each featuring six wines to be discussed by the winemakers--with gourmet food grilled and eaten under the oaks on a Spanish Land grant ranch in the middle of Santa Rita Hills.  With LOTS of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and a chance to talk one-on-one with the winemakers.  You can learn more about the event at Sta Rita Hills and can see the 2006 photos here.

  CENTRAL COAST WINE CLASSIC HEARST CASTLE DINNER

Yes, it's a long title.  But it's an INCREDIBLY impressive event.  Tables set at the foot of Hearst Castle, overlooking the Neptune pool, looking out over the hills.  FIFTEEN wine glasses at each place.  Yes, 15. Food prepared by world class chefs in a kitchen that appeared that morning and will disappear about Midnight. It's like magic.  Another photographer covered the black tie guests; we were hired to photograph the food and wine; preparation and presentation.  So we have the chefs, the helpers, the food, the glasses, the servers, the utentsils..  well, check for yourself here.  (and we'll be back again this July, so you can check back in August to see how it went.) And if you want to find out more about the four day Wine Classic, check their web site.

 YES, THERE'S MORE.  Lots more, actually.  But w're not sure what interests you.  If you want more vineyards, wineries, grapes, winemakers, events we'd be happy to set up the links.  Just let us know.

We take photos at many local wine events as well as at specific wineries and vineyards.  Where they are not proprietary, we place them on the web so anyone can view them and buy 4x6 copies.  (We don't get a commission, but we don't have to do the printing.  For us, it's a wash)

We've included links to some of those events here with brief descritptions in case you're interested.

Of course, if you'd like us to photograph YOUR event or need photos for a brochure, poster, web site, etc., contact us.