SANTA YNEZ, CALIF., Sept. 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of the month long epicure∙sb event highlighting the locally grown and produced food culture in Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association will be holding its 22nd annual Celebration of Harvest at Rancho Sisquoc Winery outside of Santa Maria on October 13. In addition to sipping samples of locally grown and produced wine, festival attendees will sample epicurean delights produced from local ingredients by dozens of area restaurants, caterers and food purveyors. "The grapes are coming in and here we go again!" jokes Joe Padilla, proprietor of Avant Tapas and Wine in Buellton. Avant features small bites of locally grown and raised food all year long in a tasting bar located at Terravant Wine Company, a custom crush wine making facility, but they will take their show on the road to show off their latest creations using local ingredients at Celebration of Harvest.
Joining Avant at Celebration of Harvest will be a selection of the area's finest full course restaurants including Miro from the Bacara Resort, Root 246 at Hotel Corque in Solvang, Petros located in Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos, and the Starting Gate at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott. Chef Jeff Olsson of New West Special Occasion Catering says, "We wouldn't miss Celebration of Harvest! We'll bring something new… something fun." In addition to food created by local chefs, festival attendees can also sample the latest in varietal olive oils and infused vinegars offered by Rancho Olivos, il Fustino and Luna Olivo paired with handmade breads produced by Ethnic Breads of Santa Barbara. And illustrating the local food scene wouldn't be complete without a variety of barbecued fare including selections from "the pit" of the original Hitching Post in Casmalia as well as the incomparable Hitching Post II in Buellton.
"We're looking at a near perfect harvest season this year with plenty of reason to celebrate," says Jim Fiolek, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association. "What better way to celebrate all things grown and produced locally than enjoying an afternoon of sampling wine and gourmet food in the countryside where it grows."
Information on epicure∙sb and a list of events can be found at www.santabarbaraca.com. For a complete list of wine country events throughout the month of October as well as tickets for Celebration of Harvest, go to www.sbcountywines.com.
The Santa Barbara Vintners Association logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13132
