Stars of Santa Barbara Wine Tasting Event Highlights Central Coast Vintages

Annual showcase features 40 notable Santa Barbara County wineries at Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The seventh annual Stars of Santa Barbara wine tasting event took place on February 3, 2010 at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, featuring around 40 notable wineries from California's Central Coast region. The event, produced by Ian Blackburn's Learn About Wine company, highlighted the diversity and quality of Santa Barbara County wines, from the Urban Wine Trail in the city to the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail farther north.

Why it matters

Santa Barbara County has emerged as one of California's premier wine regions, known for its cool climate and diverse microclimates that allow for the cultivation of a wide range of grape varieties. Events like Stars of Santa Barbara help promote the region's wines and provide an opportunity for consumers to discover new producers and taste the latest vintages.

The details

The tasting featured wines from a number of standout Santa Barbara wineries, including Buttonwood, Coquelicot, Fontes and Phillips, Foxen, Jonata, Lucas & Lewellen, and Qupé. Highlights included a bright and unusual Cabernet Franc from Buttonwood, a spicy and fruity Sangiovese/Merlot blend from Foxen, and impressive Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and blended wines from Jonata.

  • The Stars of Santa Barbara tasting event took place on February 3, 2010.
  • The event was the seventh annual edition of the showcase.

The players

Ian Blackburn

The founder of Learn About Wine, the company that produced the Stars of Santa Barbara tasting event.

Karen Steinwachs

The winemaker at Buttonwood, who offered an explanation for the Sauvignon Blanc-like profile of the winery's Syrah rosé.

Matt Dees

The winemaker at Jonata, who crafted a number of impressive wines highlighted at the tasting.

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What they’re saying

“The Syrah Rose shocked me. Blind, I would have sworn it was Sauvignon Blanc. That profile came through rather prominently in the taste, too.”

— Karen Steinwachs, Winemaker, Buttonwood (nowandzin.com)

“Jonata winemaker Matt Dees has crafted some wines that deserve attention. I tried these first at the tasting, but they were so good I wished I had saved them for last.”

— Randy Fuller, Author (nowandzin.com)

What’s next

The next Stars of Santa Barbara tasting event is scheduled for February 2, 2027 at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The takeaway

The Stars of Santa Barbara tasting showcased the diversity and quality of wines from California's Santa Barbara County, reinforcing the region's status as one of the state's premier wine destinations and a must-visit for oenophiles.