Groundstar in the Glass: Celebrating Sta. Rita Hills & the Groundstar-Grown Community at Wine & Fire On the Road Santa Barbara — April 18
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
At Groundstar, our work is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: great wine begins in the vineyard—but it comes to life through community.
On April 18, our talented wine community will be on full display in the city of Santa Barbara as the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance launches the AVA's 25th anniversary celebrations with Wine & Fire: On the Road — Santa Barbara. This reimagined wine tasting experience brings together the people, places, and wines that define our region. Groundstar will very much be present in the glass, and we invite you to join.
Groundstar-Grown, Poured by Our Partners
We’re proud to share that several of our Groundstar-Grown partners will be participating, including:
GoGi Wines
Marbeso Wines
Flying Goat Cellars
These are the producers and winemakers who translate the character of our vineyard into finished wines—each with their own voice, yet all rooted in the same soils, the same coastal influence, and the same commitment to thoughtful farming.
Seeing these wines side by side, poured by the people who craft them, is a powerful reminder of what collaboration in wine can look like. It’s not just about a single label—it’s about a shared ecosystem.
A Deeper Dive: Pinot Noir & Sparkling Wine
For those looking to go beyond the tasting, the event’s VIP seminars led by Master of Wine Amy Christine offer a rare opportunity to explore two categories that are especially close to our hearts:
Pinot Noir — the defining grape of Sta. Rita Hills and the foundation of our vineyard plantings
Sparkling Wine — an area of growing focus for the region, and one we are deeply invested in at Groundstar
These sessions invite guests to taste comparatively, placing Sta. Rita Hills wines in a global context—an approach we believe is essential to understanding both the uniqueness and the potential of our region.
At Groundstar, Pinot Noir is not just what we grow—it’s what we steward. Our farming decisions, from spacing to soil health practices, are made with the long-term expression of this grape in mind.
And on the sparkling side, we’re especially excited about what’s ahead. Our 2019 Blanc de Noirs, produced in the traditional method from estate-grown Pinot Noir, will soon be released—a reflection of both place and patience.
Why This Matters
Events like Wine & Fire are more than tastings. They are moments of connection—between growers and winemakers, between vineyard and glass, between community and consumer.
They also serve as a reminder that no vineyard exists in isolation.
Every bottle poured by our partners represents not only their craft, but a shared commitment to regenerative stewardship, to quality, and to the future of Sta. Rita Hills.
If you’d like to experience this community firsthand, we encourage you to join.
Event Details
Wine & Fire: On the Road — Santa Barbara | Saturday, April 18, 2026
Location: Santa Barbara Historical Museum
An immersive tasting experience featuring Sta. Rita Hills wineries, limited-release wines, and curated food offerings—alongside optional VIP seminars led by Amy Christine MW, exploring Pinot Noir and sparkling wine.
Tickets & Registration
Tickets are now available, including VIP access to exclusive, limited-capacity seminars.
Join the Celebration
If you plan to attend on April 18, be sure to seek out the wines of GoGi, Marbeso, and Flying Goat—each offering a distinct expressions of Groundstar Vineyard and the Sta. Rita Hills.
And if you join one of the VIP seminars, take a moment to reflect on how these wines fit into the broader global conversation.
Because ultimately, this is what we’re working toward:
Stewarding tomorrow. Celebrating today.
