With a higher percentage of female winemakers than most of the world's wine regions, Santa Barbara wine country has much to celebrate for International Women's Day, which focuses on working women. Our belief is that our wines shine with great food and good company. We invite you to join us in our own “back yard” to savor every last sip (+ bite).

Meet Director of Winemaking Megan McGrath Gates and 30+ women winemakers pouring their wines during a walk-around tasting reception, paired with bites prepared by some of the area's best female chefs, restaurateurs and food crafters, served at the beautiful 27 Vines property.

Culinary talent for this year's event is organized by Brooke Stockwell, Executive Chef, Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, and will include Taylor Tate, executive pastry chef, peasants FEAST; Joy Reinhardt, chef/owner, Ellie's Tap & Vine; Sarah Price, owner/operator of Lompoc-based Sassafras Mobile Food Truck and Restaurant; Vilay Saikeo, founder/owner of Lompoc's Savory & Sweet Eats; Melissa Scrymgeour, chef/co-owner of Solvang's Clean Slate Wine Bar; Lisa Thompson, chef at Global Gardens; Shanté Norwood, owner/baker at Té'Stees Cupcakes; and treats- and truffle-maker Jessica Foster of Jessica Foster Confections. Additional event chefs and participating food businesses will be announced over the next few weeks.

All participating women winemakers will be on-hand to pour tastes of their wines and talk with event guests during the wine tasting reception (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM), which will include passed appetizers, a cheese table, and live music. The growing list of women winemakers includes Karen Steinwachs, Seagrape Wine Company; Lane Tanner, Lumen Wines; Kathy Joseph, Fiddlehead Cellars; Helen Falcone, Falcone Family Vineyards; Gretchen Voelcker, Piazza Family Wines and Luna Hart Wines; Laura Hughes, Loubud Wines and Sanford Winery & Vineyards; Dana Volk, Dana V. Wines and Happy Mommy Wines; Jessica Gasca, Story of Soil; Wynne Solomon, Peake Ranch Winery; Samra Morris, Alma Rosa Winery; Alice Anderson, âmevive; Megan McGrath Gates, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards and Toccata; Kristin Bryden, Zaca Mesa Winery; Amy Christine, Holus Bolus; Claire Wilson, Provignage; Sunny Doench Stricker, Future Perfect Wine; Allyson Bycraft, Babcock Winery & Vineyards; Anna deLaski, Solminer Wine Co.; Kristin Harris Luis, Cote of Paint Wine. (All additional, participating winemakers/wineries, TBA.)