Savoring the 2023 Santa Barbara Vintners Festival Weekend Introduction The Santa Barbara Vintners Festival Weekend is one of the most awaited wine events of the year. This year, the festival took place on April 21-23, and it was an absolute treat for wine enthusiasts worldwide. The event was organized by the Santa Barbara Vintners Association, a non-profit organization that promotes the region's wine industry. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the 2023 Santa Barbara Vintner's Festival Weekend and explore the various events that took place during the festival. The Grand Tasting ... Continue reading...

Hello there, wine lovers! As the temperature warms up and the winter chill fades away, the vineyards across the world start to come alive with the first signs of spring. Bud break season is an exciting time for any wine enthusiast as it marks the beginning of a new growing season and the birth of new grapevines. In this blog post, we will take a deep dive into the lifecycle of a grapevine during bud break season, exploring the various stages of growth and the factors that influence them. First things first, let's start with a little bit of background. Grapevines are deciduous plants that ... Continue reading...

The Grand Tasting As a wine enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for exciting events to attend. One of my all-time favorites is the Paso Wine Fest, held annually in Paso Robles Wine Country. This festival is a must-attend for anyone who loves wine, good food, live music, and a fun atmosphere. Paso Robles Wine Festivals are an ideal way to explore the rich and diverse wine culture of Paso Robles Wine Country. This beautiful region, located on the Central Coast of California, is home to over 200 wineries and is famous for producing some of the best wines in the world. The Paso Wine Fest is ... Continue reading...

The Big Red Fest – April 30, 2023  Red red wine, I loved you right from the start.   Right from the start, with all of my heart.   - UB40   When winter wanes, dormant vineyards awaken, signaling the birth of a new vintage.  That makes me pretty happy, but not nearly as happy as a full-day celebration of food and wine.  The wineries of the De Portola Wine Trail make it happen on the last day of April by hosting the annual Big Red Fest.  This once-a-year festa del vino rosso sets you on a journey down Temecula’s De Portola Wine Trail, where you'll discover 10 family-owned wineries proudly ... Continue reading...

These last few months, all the Grapeliners stayed home and socially distanced ourselves from vineyards, shuttles, and from you, our guests. We're sooooo done with that, and hopefully so are you.  It's time to head out to the wineries again!!! Kim Kelliher, our beloved leader and a real smart lady, asked me to say this: "We’ve thoughtfully approached our re-opening and have strategically implemented new protocols in accordance with current CDC guidelines."  I think what she means is: "We're doing all the things you'd expect us to do, and then some."  So, a Grapeline tour will look different, ... Continue reading...

People talk.  Here's what they're saying about Grapeline... More than 3,000 people have come out on a wine tour with Grapeline and then posted a 5-star review online, on TripAdvisor, Yelp, or other popular review sites.  In every region Grapeline serves, on every review site, Grapeline averages 5 stars.  Here's what Kim A. of Trabuco Canyon said earlier this week about her experience with Grapeline: Such a well planned and fun day trip to the wineries. Grapeline tours didn't miss a beat. We were a part of a pre-wedding celebration that Grapeline was sure to acknowledge and celebrate, as well. ... Continue reading...

The first time you go wine tasting, you won't be very good at it. Yes, there's skill involved. As a wine tasting pro, I'm sharing some of my best tips so you can aspire to be as good at it as I am. Someday. Don't wear fragrance. Strong perfumes, colognes, and even lingering smoke can ruin wine tasting. Your sense of smell is a huge part of your sense of taste. Try holding your nose and tasting your favorite Cabernet Franc, and you'll discover that all nuances are gone. Plus, even before you taste, you should be taking in the aromas of the wine. Sometimes, the "nose" of the wine is ... Continue reading...

During my last Napa Valley wine tasting, I visited The Castle because that's just something you do. When Napa people talk about the Castello di Amorosa, which they often do, they never use its full name. It is like a celebrity that way. When "Rolling in the Deep" plays, no one says "that Adele Laurie Blue Adkins sure can sing." Overkill. Adele is enough. So, when you ask Napa Valley locals what wineries are on the "must visit list," and they definitively answer "The Castle," they are implicitly acknowledging that the remarkable edifice built on 171 acres overlooking Calistoga is something so ... Continue reading...

Let's say you have two days in Santa Barbara Wine Country. On the first day, wine tasting is an absolute. On the second day, go wine tasting again. There are more than 120 wineries in the area, so you will have barely scratched the surface. If you are staying for more than two days, you might start wondering about what's under the surface. Here are some ideas for how to enjoy the non-wine delights that Santa Barbara Wine Country offers.... Feed an Ostrich. An Ostrich can run as fast as 45 miles per hour, be as tall as 9 feet, weigh as much as 350 pounds, and can kill a lion with one kick. So ... Continue reading...

If something can be called one-in-a-million, then it is still 10 times more common than Grapeline's brand new Mercedes Panoramic touring van. The new vehicle is a first-of-its-kind hardtop convertible that seats 19. In the U.S., which has almost 300 million registered vehicles, there are only 30 of the Panoramics, making it literally a one-in-10-million sight.    On April 27, 2019, the new Panoramic made its inaugural voyage with customers on board, taking guests on a wine tour featuring the Big Red Festival in Temecula Valley Wine Country. Among the 18 guests were Grapeline co-founders John ... Continue reading...