Finding Space of Their Own: Women Winemakers and Culinarians of Santa Barbara County

Photos by Deborah Chadsey

Last March I had the honor of attending a Grand Tasting event up in the Santa Ynez Valley. The location at 27 Vines was lushly green, a pleasure to stroll through the garden paths, sipping wine and sampling delicious bites while chatting with more than five dozen creative makers. The thing about this annual event: All of them are women.

It’s no coincidence that this gathering occurs in March, aligning with Women’s History Month. The group started out in 2015 as a collective of winemakers and, over the years, has grown into the Women Winemakers and Culinarians,
becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2024. It’s a true team effort, closely coordinated by Karen Steinwachs, former winemaker at Buttonwood who now runs her own label, Seagrape Wine.

In 2015, Steinwachs was inspired by Patricia Arquette’s Oscars speech calling for wage equality and equal rights for women. She was inspired and recalled, “Why the heck are we NOT touting the fact that we have more women winemakers here-some of the hardest-working gals around?”

Shortly after, 12 women winemakers met up—casually yet intentionally—for the first time to taste each other’s wines. Steinwachs and Sonja Magdevski hosted this at Magdevski’s Casa Dumetz tasting room in Los Alamos. Every year since, they have gathered in March. By 2017, the event had grown to include a tasting event and dinner, headed by chef Brooke Stockwell, who continues to lead the culinary side of the crew.

Now that they are a registered nonprofit, March remains their biggest weekend of activities. The Grand Tasting offers an intimate setting, capped at just 250 guests, making it a pleasure to sip, stroll and engage. It offers time to
hear directly from the makers, each with a story that drives their commitment to their crafts. People like Laura Hughes of Loubud Wines and Tara Gomez of Camins 2 Dreams have been involved from year one, while talented new labels like Pars Fortuna by Kira Malone and Future Perfect Wine by Sunny Stricker are more recent additions.

What makes Santa Barbara County special is its high concentration of women winemakers compared to other regions. They work to share and uplift one another’s efforts, and the camaraderie and generosity of each is evident when they return, with enthusiasm, year after year. The group, while founded by winemakers, has expanded to include makers of spirits and nonalcoholic beverages, ensuring something for everyone. Their fundraising efforts have benefited the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County and this year they will be donating proceeds to SYV Community Outreach.

Keep an eye out for events outside of March as they hold fundraisers year-round, like supper clubs at Steinwach’s restored historic barn off Alamo Pintado Road near Los Olivos. On April 11 is the Denim and Diamonds red carpet event at Zaca Creek Tavern in Buellton that celebrates the supportive industry heroes. There will be the Winds Beneath Our Wings Awards in recognition of those often working behind the scenes, and also the Cape and Crown Award at a festive sit-down dinner. For a more playful-yet equally delicious-experience, the popular BroBBQ meat extravaganza returns in August.

You can join in at any of these events. You can also read about many of these noteworthy women in past issues of
Edible Santa Barbara. Lane Tanner, recipient of the 2025 Cape and Crown Award, was featured in Issue #62; this year’s honoree, Judy Adams, appeared in Issue #59.

Throughout it all, with so much work to do, and still to do, the women have been committed to meeting up. As Steinwachs reflects, “It’s been quite the joyful ride! And our plans and mission to raise up, recognize and give back just keep getting better and better.”

Learn more about the Women Winemakers and Culinarians Foundation at www.SBWomenWinemakers.com