Dreaming of a Wine Christmas

While a storybook White Christmas may not be possible in Santa Barbara County, a “Wine Christmas” is perfectly attainable and a tasty way to celebrate the season. Next weekend, December 5 and 6, the Santa Maria Wine Country does just that with its annual Wine Christmas Passport Weekend, which is guaranteed to infuse you and yours with holiday spirit.

The $30 passport ticket, which can be picked up at “The Bench” in Los Olivos and Costa de Oro Winery in Santa Maria, gets you tastings at 11 participating wineries-namely, Addamo, Cambria, CORE, Costa de Oro, Cottonwood Canyon, Foxen, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Rancho Sisquoc, Riverbench, The Bench, and Tres Hermanas-as well as a Riedel glass, cookie recipes at each winery, and savings on wine purchases, hotels, and transportation. “When you consider the number of tasting rooms the passport grants guests access to and the average $10 tasting room fee, the passport offers an amazing discount,” said Kady Fleckenstein, executive director of the Santa Maria Wine Country. “Plus, for every two bottles of wine purchased, passport attendees will receive a raffle ticket with a chance to win an array of enticing wine-related prizes.”

In the spirit of the holiday giving, a portion of the weekend’s proceeds will go to the Marian Foundation, a nonprofit supporting the local hospital, and Blochman Union School District, the only school in Santa Maria’s wine country.

Visit smvwines.com/WineChristmas, email info@smvwines.com, or call 866-480-5194.