Margerum Wine Company
Cork Up
About
Margerum Wine Company is committed to creating handcrafted wines using only the highest quality grapes so that we can make wines that are indicative of the place where they are grown. We strive to make wines naturally, to make wines that have individual characteristics and to make wines with personality.
Location Description
Margerum Wine Company has two tasting room experiences, one in downtown Santa Barbara and the other at our winery in Buellton. Our Margerum Reserve Tasting Room is located in the historic El Paseo in the vibrant Presidio Neighborhood.
59 Industrial Way (behind Figueroa Mtn. Brewing) Buellton 93427
Features
- Producing world class wines.
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
- Caves:
- Wedding Facilities:
- Picnic Facilities:
- Dog Friendly:
- Winery Tours:
- Wine Tasting:
- Art or Architecture:
- Organic / Biodynamic:
- Awards:
- Wine Club:
- Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:
Average Bottle Price
$ 35.00
Winemaker
Michael Miroballi - Winemaker:
Michael Miroballi graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in Geology and wanted to pursue a career connected to the earth near his beloved home, the Santa Ynez Valley. His first harvest with Margerum Wine Company was 2009. He believes in hard work, patience, and a commitment to excellence. Michael’s focus on producing wines of the highest quality and his passion for Santa Barbara County wines are tremendous assets to Margerum Wine Company.
Sam Smith - Assistant Winemaker:
Sam Smith studied French, Spanish and Economics at UCSB with the initial intent of a career in international business. When deciding where to study abroad he chose Bordeaux, considering its close proximity to both world class surf as well as world class wines. Completely enamored by the life of wine during the illustrious 2009 Bordeaux vintage, Sam commenced his career in the wine industry immediately upon return to Santa Barbara. He has since worked harvests in Santa Barbara County, Central Victoria, Australia and the Willamette Valley, Oregon. A bittersweet, yet serendipitously denied visa to work in Côte-Rôtie in 2012 brought him to Margerum, one of the most highly regarded New World Rhône producers.
Michael Miroballi graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in Geology and wanted to pursue a career connected to the earth near his beloved home, the Santa Ynez Valley. His first harvest with Margerum Wine Company was 2009. He believes in hard work, patience, and a commitment to excellence. Michael’s focus on producing wines of the highest quality and his passion for Santa Barbara County wines are tremendous assets to Margerum Wine Company.
Sam Smith - Assistant Winemaker:
Sam Smith studied French, Spanish and Economics at UCSB with the initial intent of a career in international business. When deciding where to study abroad he chose Bordeaux, considering its close proximity to both world class surf as well as world class wines. Completely enamored by the life of wine during the illustrious 2009 Bordeaux vintage, Sam commenced his career in the wine industry immediately upon return to Santa Barbara. He has since worked harvests in Santa Barbara County, Central Victoria, Australia and the Willamette Valley, Oregon. A bittersweet, yet serendipitously denied visa to work in Côte-Rôtie in 2012 brought him to Margerum, one of the most highly regarded New World Rhône producers.
The Team
Doug started his food and wine explorations at a young age while traveling with his parents in France. His passion for food and wine was enhanced as he worked in restaurants as a cook and server throughout his high school and college years.
Coinciding with his graduation from UCSB in 1981, his family purchased WINE CASK – which quickly expanded to include a simple bistro adjacent to wine store. In 1994 the WINE CASK became one of 74 restaurants in the world to earn the Wine Spectator Grand Award. He sold the WINE CASK in 2007 after deciding to devote all of his energies to wine making. Margerum Wine Company began in 2001. His philosophy is to return to wine making in its previous form of production – handcrafted and personal. In 2009 he re-opened the Wine Cask with new partners Mitchell Sjerven (bouchon) and Anda Ashkar.
Doug is the wine maker for Jamie Slone Wines and Happy Canyon Vineyards, which produces wines under the BARRACK, PIOCHO, CHUKKER, and HCV labels. He is also the consulting wine maker for CENT’ANNI, a new vineyard planted with a variety of clones of Sangiovese and located in the heart of the Santa Ynez.
He now devotes all of his energies to the production & promotion of Margerum wines and to the raising of his two children – Remy & Evan.
Hugh Margerum
Website / Wine Club
A Santa Barbara resident since 1978, Hugh Margerum is an abstract artist, mobile app developer, squash player, author, and has been involved in the food and wine business since 1981 when he and his brother Doug opened the Wine Cask Restaurant in Santa Barbara. He currently is in charge of the website, online sales and is the wine club manager for Margerum Wine Company. Most recently, Hugh has spearheaded the branding and promotion of the Presidio Neighborhood, the historic area of downtown Santa Barbara that is now home to Margerum Tasting Room and the Wine Collection of El Paseo, along with a wide range of restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and cultural destinations.
John Vidal
National Sales Manager
During his 17 years in the wine industry, John has worked predominantly for Regal Wine Company, the wholesale division for Jackson Family Fine Wines. John worked his way up from the grocery division to serving as the Southern California Area Manager as a supplier for Jackson Family Fine Wines. His last five years were spent as the Region Sales Manager for the On-Premise team in Southern California. John believes that hard work, planning and execution are the keys to successful sales. He graduated from Chapman University with a degree in film studies and spent five years working in the motion picture and television industry before transitioning to wine. John lives in Hermosa Beach with his wife Beth and he enjoys surfing, traveling, watching sports and Friday night wine dinners with friends.
Brooks Van Wingerden
General Manager
Raised in Santa Barbara, Brooks attended college at UCLA where she studied sociology and communications. While there, she worked for Sports Illustrated handling sales and marketing programs as well as market research for prominent advertisers. Upon graduation, Brooks worked at UBS Financial Services where she managed client relations and marketing programs for a high net worth wealth management team. After finishing her Certified Financial Planning degree at UCSB, she realized she wished to follow her passion for wine. Since joining Margerum Wine Company in 2010, she has used her financial background to quantify sales goals, manage the brand nationally for the company, and oversee the daily operations. Brooks and her husband, Ivor, live in Nipomo where they grow cut flowers, avocados and greenhouse vegetables.
Christina Panameno
Office Manager
Armed with her degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Christina landed herself an executive assistant position to the CEO of a prominent investment company located in the heart of San Francisco's financial district. Although she loved the experience that this afforded her, the beautiful central coast, a place where she is deeply rooted, was calling her back home. She set out in search of a career with a company that embodied the perfect ratio of hard work and good living and found a perfect fit with Margerum Wine Company.
Rani Mclean
Tasting Room Manager
Rani Mclean received her Ph.D in Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focused on wine production and wine tourism in the Napa Valley. She brings her experience of researching the wine industry as well as working in tasting rooms throughout the Napa Valley. Her dedication to hospitality drives her philosophy and the practice of all tasting room associates who thrive to educate each customer in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Her passion for knowledge has led to her enthusiasm for wine. When she is not in the tasting room educating customer about wine she is practicing her third love, teaching at Santa Barbara City College.
Coinciding with his graduation from UCSB in 1981, his family purchased WINE CASK – which quickly expanded to include a simple bistro adjacent to wine store. In 1994 the WINE CASK became one of 74 restaurants in the world to earn the Wine Spectator Grand Award. He sold the WINE CASK in 2007 after deciding to devote all of his energies to wine making. Margerum Wine Company began in 2001. His philosophy is to return to wine making in its previous form of production – handcrafted and personal. In 2009 he re-opened the Wine Cask with new partners Mitchell Sjerven (bouchon) and Anda Ashkar.
Doug is the wine maker for Jamie Slone Wines and Happy Canyon Vineyards, which produces wines under the BARRACK, PIOCHO, CHUKKER, and HCV labels. He is also the consulting wine maker for CENT’ANNI, a new vineyard planted with a variety of clones of Sangiovese and located in the heart of the Santa Ynez.
He now devotes all of his energies to the production & promotion of Margerum wines and to the raising of his two children – Remy & Evan.
Hugh Margerum
Website / Wine Club
A Santa Barbara resident since 1978, Hugh Margerum is an abstract artist, mobile app developer, squash player, author, and has been involved in the food and wine business since 1981 when he and his brother Doug opened the Wine Cask Restaurant in Santa Barbara. He currently is in charge of the website, online sales and is the wine club manager for Margerum Wine Company. Most recently, Hugh has spearheaded the branding and promotion of the Presidio Neighborhood, the historic area of downtown Santa Barbara that is now home to Margerum Tasting Room and the Wine Collection of El Paseo, along with a wide range of restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and cultural destinations.
John Vidal
National Sales Manager
During his 17 years in the wine industry, John has worked predominantly for Regal Wine Company, the wholesale division for Jackson Family Fine Wines. John worked his way up from the grocery division to serving as the Southern California Area Manager as a supplier for Jackson Family Fine Wines. His last five years were spent as the Region Sales Manager for the On-Premise team in Southern California. John believes that hard work, planning and execution are the keys to successful sales. He graduated from Chapman University with a degree in film studies and spent five years working in the motion picture and television industry before transitioning to wine. John lives in Hermosa Beach with his wife Beth and he enjoys surfing, traveling, watching sports and Friday night wine dinners with friends.
Brooks Van Wingerden
General Manager
Raised in Santa Barbara, Brooks attended college at UCLA where she studied sociology and communications. While there, she worked for Sports Illustrated handling sales and marketing programs as well as market research for prominent advertisers. Upon graduation, Brooks worked at UBS Financial Services where she managed client relations and marketing programs for a high net worth wealth management team. After finishing her Certified Financial Planning degree at UCSB, she realized she wished to follow her passion for wine. Since joining Margerum Wine Company in 2010, she has used her financial background to quantify sales goals, manage the brand nationally for the company, and oversee the daily operations. Brooks and her husband, Ivor, live in Nipomo where they grow cut flowers, avocados and greenhouse vegetables.
Christina Panameno
Office Manager
Armed with her degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Christina landed herself an executive assistant position to the CEO of a prominent investment company located in the heart of San Francisco's financial district. Although she loved the experience that this afforded her, the beautiful central coast, a place where she is deeply rooted, was calling her back home. She set out in search of a career with a company that embodied the perfect ratio of hard work and good living and found a perfect fit with Margerum Wine Company.
Rani Mclean
Tasting Room Manager
Rani Mclean received her Ph.D in Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focused on wine production and wine tourism in the Napa Valley. She brings her experience of researching the wine industry as well as working in tasting rooms throughout the Napa Valley. Her dedication to hospitality drives her philosophy and the practice of all tasting room associates who thrive to educate each customer in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Her passion for knowledge has led to her enthusiasm for wine. When she is not in the tasting room educating customer about wine she is practicing her third love, teaching at Santa Barbara City College.
