Winery News

“This Saturday, Carr Winery will come alive with the sizzling sight of wine bottles bent into entirely new and beautiful shapes when Santa Barbara glass artist Seth Brayer debutsPyroCycled, an exhibit of elegantly and intricately designed pieces and light fixtures that he’s formed from recycled wine bottles. The event runs 6-9 p.m., and at 7:30 p.m., Brayer will show how he distorts the bottles into one-of-a-kind, kelp-like coils and spindles during a live demo. Drawn to turning discarded objects into entirely new things, Brayer’s technique was inspired by Kitty City, the cat enclosure he built at his home out of recycled cardboard. “Through the power of the furnace and the heat of the fire, it gives me the opportunity to kind …

You’ve done Napa, Sonoma and Monterey, and visited their most important wineries. But there’s so much more to California wine, which you’ll explore on the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail. There are almost 30 wineries downtown, so you’ll want to do your homework before you set out. Most venues feature tasting rooms, but call first because some require appointments. Fees range from $5 to $15 per winery and include samples of five to eight wines. Most do not sell food, but weekends feature a number of food trucks along the route.

“Located in downtown Santa Barbara, Carr Vineyards is a quaint winery that produces its wine from locally sourced grapes from Santa Barbara County.”

As in May, when I focused an entire column on merlot, I’d like to spotlight another single grape varietal: Today, cabernet franc.

Cab franc is similar to merlot in that it’s also a Bordeaux varietal, and is not extensively planted in Santa Barbara County since it thrives with heat, and our region isn’t big on heat.

As a bonus, cab franc offers its fans a catchy moniker: “Franc-o-philes.” How can you go wrong?

Rundown of Recent Santa Barbara County Bottlings of the Bordeaux Grape and Loire Star

If you have yet to reach for cabernet franc, now’s the time to try the lighter, crisper, and more aromatic cousin to cabernet sauvignon.

125-number of days in the average grape growing season

1-number of days it takes to screw it all up

VINTAGE 2014 is a multimedia documentary project, that Carr Winery had the privilege of being part of, that lets wine lovers experience the journey of a vintage in real time, from bud break to barreling. 

“This year’s gift bag is said to be worth over $24,000 of gifts that range from trips to fine jewelry. Quoting Lash Fary, “‘It’s all about that swag,’ It is a true honor to be even a very small part of Music’s Biggest Night. The Grammy Gift Lounge is always the highlight of my year.”

CARR WINERY -$50.00

“Talk about major swag.”

“Before the Grammys kick off Sunday, presenters and performers from the show get to indulge in a room full of free gifts. At the show’s official gift lounge presented by MTG and Distinctive Assets, celebs are treated to a shopping spree of sorts and a $25,000 gift bag. Guests are also treated to … bottles of pinot noir from Carr Winery.”

Carr Winery’s 2012 Pinot Noir from Turner Vineyard was part of the 2015 GRAMMY Award gift bags.

2004 Carr Pinot Noir, Turner Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills

It was the first vintage from Turner Vineyard, and the first vintage is always unlike any other the vineyard will produce.  It was a very cool growing season, mostly, but just as the fruit was getting ripe, we had a heat wave.  The fruit in Turner Vineyard finished up quick and turned out really good.