< blog | The Best Wines You've Never Heard Of Are Pouring in the Santa Ynez Valley (Here’s Where)

The Best Wines You've Never Heard Of Are Pouring in the Santa Ynez Valley (Here’s Where)

One of the things I love most about the Santa Ynez Valley wine community is that some of the best bottles are often the hardest to find. They're not backed by big marketing budgets or stacked on grocery store shelves. More often than not, they're being poured by the very people who farmed the vineyards, made the wine, and are still loading cases into the back of their truck before heading to the next event.

That's the spirit behind Off the Beaten Pour Wine Festival. Hosted at Easy Street Wine Collective in Buellton, this festival brings together a collection of Santa Barbara County's small-production winemakers for an afternoon of showcasing their goods, conversation, and exceptional wine.

It's a chance to meet the people behind the labels, hear the stories behind the bottles, and experience the creativity that makes this region such a special place to make—and enjoy—wine. Guests will also enjoy festival bites from Chef Melissa of Clean Slate, whose menu line-up is every bit as thoughtful as the wines being poured.

We recently caught up with Jason Scrymgeour, owner of Bocce Ball Wine and Clean Slate, to talk about the inspiration behind the festival, why he believes the best wines often fly under the radar, and what he hopes guests take home besides a few new favorite bottles.

SYVBuzz: The name "Off the Beaten Pour" immediately sparks curiosity. What inspired this festival, and what do you hope people experience that they won't find at a traditional wine tasting event?

JS: Every wine lover remembers a bottle that made them stop and say, "Where has this been all my life?" That's what Off the Beaten Pour is all about. It's a chance to discover remarkable wines from passionate winemakers, wines you may not have come across otherwise. Honestly, the goal is simple, introduce great wines to people who love wine. There are incredible winemakers producing some of the most exciting wines in Santa Barbara County, but because they're small, they're often overlooked. Off the Beaten Pour is about bringing those hidden gems into the spotlight. We want guests to leave saying, "Wow... I had no idea this existed."

SYVBuzz: You’ve built Bocce Ball Wine around small-production, handcrafted wines. In a world of big brands and supermarket labels, what excites you most about championing boutique winemakers?

JS: People sometimes picture winemaking as a romantic lifestyle, but for most small producers it's a labor of love. It's long days, uncertainty, and taking a leap of faith year after year. I know what it feels like to stare at a pallet of wine and wonder if anyone is going to buy some of it. Every independent winemaker has had those moments. That's why I have so much respect for this community. We support each other and we’re genuinely excited when another winery succeeds. That's one of the things that makes Santa Barbara County such a special place to make wine.



SYVBuzz: It looks like Easy Street Wine Collective is where many of these wines come to life. How does hosting the festival in a working custom-crush winery add to the overall experience?

JS: This isn't a convention center or a fancy resort. You're standing in the winery where the grapes were crushed and the wines were fermented, barreled, bottled, and labeled. It's real. Honestly, watch your step ‘cause there's equipment on the floor, stacks of barrels, forklifts, hoses, and plenty of things to stub your toe on. That's part of the charm. It reminds people that wine isn't manufactured, it's crafted by real people in a working winery. There's an authenticity you simply can't recreate in a hotel ballroom.

SYVBuzz: One of the highlights of the event is meeting the winemakers themselves. Is there something people often don't realize about the passion, hard work, or risks involved in producing small-lot wines?

JS: People see the bottle on the shelf or on the wine list at a restaurant, but they rarely see the years of work behind it. For many small winemakers, it's years of farming, waiting, worrying, and hoping before that bottle ever reaches someone's table. They're not just making a product, they're creating something deeply personal. I really believe winemakers are artists, and every bottle is a chance to share a piece of themselves with someone they'll probably never meet. This Festival is a chance to meet them.

SYVBuzz: As both a winemaker and restaurant owner, you have a unique perspective on food and wine. What can guests expect from the pairings with Clean Slate's Chef Melissa’s menu?

JS: Chef Melissa never ceases to amaze me with her creativity. One night she's serving elevated comfort food like her Cajun Red Beans & Rice, and the next she's creating a multi-course fine dining experience for our Just 8 Supper Club with Matt Kettman. She has an uncanny ability to create food that elevates the wine instead of overpowering it. For Off the Beaten Pour, she's creating specialty flautas designed specifically for the festival. They're easy to eat, delicious, and just perfect festival food.

SYVBuzz: My mouth is still watering. Okay, so Santa Barbara County has become known for its incredible wine scene, but many of the producers at this event seem to fly under the radar. What makes this region such a special place for small, independent winemakers?

JS: Santa Barbara County might be one of the most beautiful places on earth, but what I think really makes it such an incredible wine region are the people who choose to make wine here. These are winemakers willing to trust their instincts instead of following the crowd. We have incredible vineyards, an amazing diversity of microclimates, and a winemaking community that's remarkably supportive of one another.

That combination gives someone with a dream (and a lot of grit) the opportunity to build something special. It’s an opportunity they might never have found in any other wine region in the world.

SYVBuzz: The festival promises wines that are 'worth talking about.' Is there a particular bottle or style you'll be pouring that you're especially excited to introduce to guests?

JS: Honestly, that's my favorite part of the festival. There are going to be wines made from grapes you may have never even heard of, and that's exciting. I discover new wines all the time. I'll be pouring my Bocce Ball Wines which includes a fun white blend called Kiss the Jack and a red blend called Volo Shot. But if I'm being honest, I'm probably more excited to see what everyone else brings.

I love discovering something new — a grape I've never tasted, a blend I never would have imagined, or a label I've never seen before. Those are the moments that remind me why I fell in love with wine in the first place. Why I am still in love with wine. That's what Off the Beaten Pour is all about.

SYVBuzz: Wine festivals can sometimes feel intimidating to people who are just getting started. What would you say to someone who's never attended a boutique wine festival before?

JS: I’d encourage people to be curious. Ask questions. Talk to the winemakers. Try something you've never heard of. This festival was built for discovery. Wander around. Taste something you can't pronounce. Meet the person who made it. Maybe the only mistake you can make is sticking with what you already know instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to discover something new. Who knows, you could find your new favorite wine.

SYVBuzz: Clean Slate has become a favorite gathering place in Solvang. How do food, wine, and community come together at events like this to create something bigger than just a tasting?

JS: I love hearing that Clean Slate has become a favorite gathering place in Solvang. When we opened just over six years ago, we wanted people to feel like they were walking into our home, not into a wine bar. Recently, a guest told me, "This place feels different than anywhere else in Solvang. It reminds me of my home in Europe. It has its own heartbeat."

To me, that was a really special compliment. I've always felt wine and food are the best excuses to bring people together. Some of my favorite memories aren't about a particular bottle or meal, they're about who I shared it with. That's what events like Off the Beaten Pour are about. Wine starts the conversation, but it's the people, the stories, and the connections that make it memorable.

SYVBuzz: If guests leave Off the Beaten Pour having learned or felt just one thing, what do you hope stays with them long after the last glass has been poured?

JS: I hope people leave realizing there's an entire world of wine waiting to be discovered. We hear a lot about the challenges facing the wine industry, but I'm incredibly optimistic. Wine has been bringing people together for thousands of years, and I have every reason to believe it'll still be doing so centuries from now.

Trends will come and go, but people will always gather around a table, share a bottle, laugh, tell stories, and talk late into the evening. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

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Talking with Jason, it became clear that Off the Beaten Pour wine festival isn't really about chasing the next trendy wine. It's about taking a minute to appreciate the people behind every bottle—the dreamers, farmers, artists, and risk-takers who continue to make Santa Barbara County one of the most exciting wine regions in the country.

Whether you walk away with a new favorite grape varietal, a case of wine you never expected to buy, or simply a memorable conversation with the person who crafted what's in your glass, that's exactly what this festival is all about.

In a world where so much feels mass-produced and AI generated, Off the Beaten Pour is a reminder that some of the best experiences — and the best wines — are still personal.

And who knows? The bottle you'll be talking about all year might just be one you've never heard of ... until now.

Use the promo code SYVBUZZ for 25% off your regular (not early access) festival tickets. Festival runs from 1-5 on Saturday, July 25th. See you there!

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