< blog | The Winemakers are Taking Over the Tavern!

The Winemakers are Taking Over the Tavern!

If your Wednesday plans don’t already include sipping incredible wines and vibing to live music, let’s fix that. Winemaker Takeover is happening tonight (March 12) at Mattei’s Tavern, and you don’t want to miss it. Each week, the bar is handed over to a rotating lineup of local wineslingers, giving you a chance to chat, sip, and discover some of the best wines in the world, right here in the Santa Ynez Valley.

This week, Epiphany Cellars is in the spotlight, and they’re bringing two stellar selections:

• Grenache Blanc — A beautifully crafted white wine that’s part stainless steel, part neutral French oak, and—because why not—then aged in a concrete egg (it’s spring, after all) for seven months. We can’t wait to try this one.


• Grenache — Scoring 91 points from Wine Enthusiast and a whopping 92 points from wine critic Jeb Dunnuck, this playful red means business. Mr. Dunnuck describes it as having "lots of up-front black cherry and gamey black fruits to go with medium-bodied richness, a layered, elegant, seamless mouthfeel, good concentration, and complex notes of peppery herbs and underbrush ... it’s well worth seeking out and will give many an impressive Châteauneuf du Pape a run for their money." You had us at "underbrush," Jeb.

And it’s not just about the wine—the music lineup is just as exciting. Tonight’s featured artist is Shawn Jones, an internationally touring roots/Americana/Blues/Rock musician who plays over 200 gigs a year across the US, UK, and EU. Whether he’s with his band or playing solo acoustic, Shawn’s raw talent on the guitar and deep, soulful voice make every performance unforgettable.

Winemaker Takeovers happen every Wednesday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. 21+ and open to the public. Reservations not required, so grab your friends, bring your taste buds, and get ready for a night of exceptional wines, great music, and good vibes. See you over at the Tavern!

See our complete list of upcoming music and wine events in the Santa Ynez Valley.