Wine Lovers Head to Los Olivos for the Annual Vintners Festival & Harvest Update

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. (KEYT) – In a year of extreme heat and tropical humidity,  it has been a science project for winemakers in Santa Barbara County to grow, pick and process their grapes when they are at their best.

It is a challenge every year but weather swings have thrown the calendar off.

Fortunately, the pace settled into a groove that was more familiar and all of that will be brought up this weekend at the annual Vintners Festival.

"When people come up here for wine, they want the story and they want to feel special and they can get something they can't get no where else and when they go home they can tell all their friend," said Native9 Brand Ambassador Wes Hagen. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and also teaches at Allan Hancock College.

Those attending the festival at the Firestone Estate Saturday will not only taste the latest production and some special bottles, but also taste from from area chefs and restaurants.

Hagen knows the harvest schedule will be top of mind.

"In a normal year we are barrel down finished with fermentation and all wine in the barrels by Halloween and I would say we are two weeks early," he said at the event site while checking some vines.

This year some of the vineyards have been taken out because of market conditions. But there are still 70 different varieties or more of wine are produced in the region including some that are just finding their sweet spot and climates in pocket locations.

Hagen says, "in an area where you see a 30 degree span between Lompoc and Lake Cachuma there is a niche for everything and we are just trying to figure out where those niches are for other grape varieties. "

Wine isn't sold by the bottle or the case at the festival but they are hoping those wine lovers will go shopping afterwards for example nearby in Los Olivos at some of the tasting rooms and even join some of the wine clubs."

"That really is what we are hoping to see this weekend is not only to give our story to let people taste our delicious wine but to focus in on sales," said Hagen.

The wine industry has been an economic driver in agriculture and hospitality for years in the county.

It's also been honored with some of the top awards in the wine world.

At the Vintners Festival wine lovers can also meet the winemakers in-person and have conversations as robust as some of the wines they are tasting.

Hagen says, "one thing we thrive on here in Santa Barbara is having our own winemakers pour at these festivals so you will not only get a little splash you get a story and you get something you will not get anywhere else in one day."

For more information go to: Santa Barbara Vintners Association

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.