Everything Everywhere All at Once: The Wines of Holus Bolus

A review of five wines from the Santa Barbara-based winery Holus Bolus

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:33pm

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This article is a review of five wines from the Santa Barbara-based winery Holus Bolus, written by wine columnist Bob Wesley. The wines include a Roussanne, a Grüner Veltliner, a Pinot Noir, and two Syrahs. The article provides tasting notes and descriptions of the winemaking approach of Holus Bolus owners Peter Hunken and Amy Christine.

Why it matters

Holus Bolus is a respected winery in the Santa Barbara region, known for producing high-quality, European-inspired wines. This review highlights the unique style and expertise of the winemakers, providing insight into the vibrant wine scene in Santa Barbara County.

The details

The article reviews five Holus Bolus wines: the 2023 Santa Maria Valley Roussanne, the 2024 Sta. Rita Hills Grüner Veltliner, the 2023 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir Estate, the 2023 Santa Barbara County Syrah, and the 2023 Presqu'ile Vineyard Santa Barbara County Syrah. The wines are described as exhibiting a refined, elegant style that balances power and finesse. Winemakers Peter Hunken and Amy Christine are praised for their extensive experience and expertise, which is reflected in the quality of the wines.

  • The Holus Bolus Santa Maria Valley Roussanne 2023 was recently sampled.
  • The Amy + Peter Made This Grüner Veltliner Sta. Rita Hills 2024 was recently sampled.
  • The Joy Fantastic Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir Estate 2023 was recently sampled.
  • The Holus Bolus Santa Barbara County Syrah 2023 was recently sampled.
  • The Holus Bolus Presqu'ile Vineyard Santa Barbara County Syrah 2023 was recently sampled.

The players

Peter Hunken

One of the owners of Holus Bolus, with a background as the right-hand man at Stolpman Vineyards and co-founder of Piedrasassi. His focus is now exclusively on wines under the Black Sheep Finds umbrella, including Holus Bolus, Hocus Pocus, Amy + Peter Made This, and The Joy Fantastic.

Amy Christine

One of the owners of Holus Bolus, with experience as a sommelier in Los Angeles and an import specialist with Europhile Kermit Lynch in Berkeley. She is also a Master of Wine, one of only 418 in the world, and wrote her thesis on Syrah.

Bob Wesley

The wine columnist who wrote the review of the Holus Bolus wines.

Bien Nacido

A famous vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley that provides fruit for the Holus Bolus Roussanne.

Robert Rae Vineyard

A vineyard in the southeastern Sta. Rita Hills that provides fruit for the Holus Bolus Santa Barbara County Syrah.

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What they’re saying

“Roussanne can be a plodding, elephantine beast, but at HB, the plush side is in complementary kinship with the zest. Sexy plushness integrates with citrusy notes of Cara Cara oranges and Meyer lemon, as opulence coalesces seamlessly into a crisp finale.”

— Bob Wesley, Wine Columnist

“This energetic wein will surely speak to you, too, and shellfish should be on your menu per its stipulation.”

— Bob Wesley, Wine Columnist

“Fleshiness and delicacy combine to attract and seduce.”

— Bob Wesley, Wine Columnist

What’s next

Amy Christine will be the star of the Sta. Rita Hills Wine & Fire Hits the Road event at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum on April 18, where she will lead two seminars on the region's wines.

The takeaway

Holus Bolus is producing high-quality, European-inspired wines that showcase the expertise of winemakers Peter Hunken and Amy Christine. Their refined, elegant style is a testament to the vibrant wine scene in Santa Barbara County.