If you’ve ever tried a BARRACK, PIOCHO, CHUKKER or any wine from Happy Canyon Vineyards, you’re familiar with Doug Margerum’s wine making talent. His ability to let the grape’s personality shine while cultivating its complexity is evident in each creation. At Margerum Wine Company in downtown Santa Barbara, steps away from the funk zone yet worlds apart, you can taste for yourself.

Margerum’s Grenache Blanc starts with nice crisp tart tropical fruit and tremendous balance. Then, a Sauvignon Blanc tastes like none other, partly because they age it in three separate portions of new, seasoned, and neutral oak barrels. This is what most likely gives it a plump juicy fruit with soft acids yet a rounded feeling. A red Rhone blend has big bold berry flavors with spice and a long leggy finish while their Sangiovese gets plenty of bright cherry and strawberry with a big bold body probably from a backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Finally, an elegant Syrah co-fermented with Viognier rounds out the tasting with silky tannins, ripe fruit, and a bit of smoke and earth on the back. All are well crafted, worthy of visiting and revisiting.