From GoGi Wines to Summer in the Vineyard & Beyond: A Season to Remember at Groundstar Vineyard
With Kurt Russell and GoGi Wines at Groundstar Vineyard, the 25th anniversary of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, and a summer filled with wine and community, 2026 was one for the books! Here are a few of the highlights.
Summer has a way of moving quickly in the vineyard. This year, it seemed to move especially fast.
Between welcoming friends and winery partners to the estate, celebrating the wines grown from this land, and the 25th Anniversary of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, the summer months were full of activity at Groundstar.
As we settle into fall, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the highlights.
GoGi Wine Party
We kicked off the summer by welcoming GoGi Wines back to Groundstar for their annual wine club celebration.
GoGi has a special connection to this vineyard. Founded by actor and vintner Kurt Russell, GoGi Wines has sourced Pinot Noir from the property for years, long before it became Groundstar, and continues to produce vineyard-designate wines from our fruit.
Their annual gathering brought wine club members from near and far to the estate for an afternoon of Groundstar-grown wines, food, live music, dancing, and time among the vines.
It was a joyful way to begin the season—and always a pleasure to welcome GoGi back to the place where these wines begin.
Summer in the Vineyard
A celebration of friends, community, and Groundstar-grown wines.
Later in July, we hosted our own Summer in the Vineyard, bringing together friends, neighbors, winemakers, and members of the Santa Barbara wine community for an afternoon celebrating the people, wines, and place behind Groundstar.
Guests tasted Groundstar-grown wines alongside the winemakers who craft them, explored the vineyard, enjoyed local food and live music, and spent a beautiful summer afternoon together among the vines.
We were delighted to welcome an incredible lineup of participating wineries, artists, and local makers, including MarBeso Wine, Camins 2 Dreams, Story of Soil Wine, Native Bloom Winery, GoGi Wine, Babcock Winer, Solminer Wine, Flying Goat Cellars, Ashkahn Wines, Lumen Wines, Ampelos Cellars, Rock 12 Distillery, Flame-Kissed Hats, Party Goats, High on the Hog, and the Whole Hog Band.
Adding to the excitement, guests were treated to an exclusive sneak peek of two upcoming Groundstar releases: our Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine and our very own gin! More to come on both soon.
For us, gatherings like these are an important part of what Groundstar is becoming: not only a place where exceptional fruit is grown, but a place where wine, agriculture, nature, and community come together.
Wine & Fire 2026: Celebrating 25 Years of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA
August brought another favorite summer tradition: Wine & Fire, the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance's signature annual celebration of the region.
Over four days in August, vintners, growers, chefs, wine lovers, and friends gathered throughout the appellation for vineyard walks, intimate tastings, dinners, and the Grand Tasting at La Purísima Mission.
This year's celebration was especially meaningful for Groundstar, as Chiara participated in her first Wine & Fire as President of the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance.
For us, Wine & Fire is a celebration of everything that makes our Sta. Rita Hills AVA such an extraordinary winegrowing region. Beyond our distinctive terroir and world-class wines, what makes this region truly special is our community of growers, winemakers, artisans, and industry leaders. Together, we share a deep connection to this remarkable place and a commitment to strengthening the identity, reputation, and future of the Sta. Rita Hills.
It was a busy few days—and a wonderful celebration of the region we are so proud to call home.
And Then Came Harvest…
As if the summer weren't busy enough, the vineyard had other plans!
The 2026 growing season brought an extraordinary twist: the earliest harvest on record, not only at Groundstar but across Santa Barbara County. With grapes ripening weeks ahead of schedule, harvest arrived while summer was still in full swing, adding a new level of excitement, urgency, and a few logistical challenges to an already packed season.
Suddenly, summer gatherings were sharing the calendar with vineyard sampling, picking decisions, harvest crews, and winery deliveries. It was a whirlwind, but also a wonderful reminder that in agriculture, Mother Nature ultimately sets the schedule!
As we look back on a summer filled with friends, wine, and community, we're equally excited about everything happening in the vineyard and across the estate.
Stay tuned for our next journal post, where we'll share highlights from the historic 2026 harvest, along with other exciting projects and developments taking shape at Groundstar.
Here's to the seasons ahead!
