Wine, Soil, and Soul: A Look Back at "Summer in the Vineyard"

Chiara Shannon
Jul 23
3 min read

Updated: Jul 24

On July 12th, Groundstar Vineyard hosted Summer in the Vineyard — our first industry open house and a joyful celebration of the people, place, and purpose at the heart of our vision.

Read on for event highlights and photo gallery below.

Kurt Russel at Groundstar Vineyard — Kurt Russel shares his love of Pinot Noir with Groundstar's Joseph Brent and Chiara Shannon. Credit: Marc Alt Photo.

Under the golden light of the Sta. Rita Hills, guests explored the vineyard, tasted a vibrant spectrum of Groundstar-grown wines, mingled with winemakers, and enjoyed local food and live music. Baby goats and sheep wandered nearby, children played on the grass, and laughter filled the air. We were honored by the presence of many friends and special guests, including actor and vintner Kurt Russell, whose genuine love for our vineyard added to the day’s magic.

Central to Groundstar’s mission is cultivating experiences that foster a deeper appreciation for both the land and those who tend it. Our work transcends grape growing — it is about mindful stewardship, sharing meaningful stories, and fostering lasting connections within our community.

We extend heartfelt thanks to our incredible winery partners who helped make Summer in the Vineyard truly special: Kurt Russell and Luke Franco of GoGi Wines, Natalie Albertson of Native Bloom Winery, Jessica Gasca of Story of Soil Wines, Norm Yost and Kate Griffith of Flying Goat Cellars, and Peter and Rebecca Work of Ampelos Cellars. Your passion and craftsmanship shine through every bottle and enrich our shared celebration of this remarkable place.

We’re also deeply grateful to friends and neighbors in our local wine community for support you’ve shown us as the new kids on the block—John Wagner of Peake Ranch Wines; Amy Christine MW and Peter Hunken of The Joy Fantastic and Holus Bolus; Bryan Babcock of Babcock Winery; Stephen Janes of Gainey Vineyard; Will and Kali Henry of Lumen Wines; David and Anna DeLaski of Solminer Wine Co.; Laura Hughes of Sanford Winery, Loubud and the Sta, Rita Hills Wine Alliance; Emily Byram and Phil Carpenter of the Santa Barbara Vintners Association; and Sarah and Marko Suput of Rock 12 Distillery. Your presence and ongoing efforts to showcase the spirit of the Sta. Rita Hills—and beyond—mean the world to us.

Finally, we are endlessly thankful to our vineyard managers, Jesús Díaz and Inocencio Cortez, whose hard work makes all of this possible. To Jeff Newton, Ruben Solorzano, Jordan Londborg, and the entire Coastal Vineyard Care team — your guidance and support are truly invaluable. And to the talented vendors and creative collaborators who brought the celebration to life — our dear friend Jessica Viola of Viola Gardens Design, PartyGoats LA, High on the Hog Catering, Marc Alt Photo, Forage Florals, and Two Paper Squares for the live music. Your contributions made our celebration ever more beautiful, memorable, nourishing, and joyful.

To everyone who joined us — thank you. Whether you’re part of the wine community or visited us for the first time, we’re honored to share this journey with you.

We’ve captured some of our favorite moments in a special photo gallery. We hope it brings a smile — and deepens your connection to the people, place, and purpose behind Groundstar.

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