Visit our Santa Barbara Tasting Room anytime on Saturday, October 19th or Sunday, October 20th for a glass of Santa Barbara County’s only sparkling wine made with Pinot Meunier.

Outside of this event, this limited production sparkling wine is only available to purchase by the bottle, and is not included on our tasting flights. Sit, sip, and enjoy this unqiue and delicate wine, which recently received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast. 

Purchase a glass of Sparkling Pinot Meunier, paired with Jessica Foster’s chocolate covered caramelized almonds, for $25.

ABOUT THIS WINE
In 2014, we decided to fully invest in developing our grower sparkling wine program by planting Pinot Meunier. This rare grape is famous in Champagne, France, but has yet to make itself known in California; we are, in fact, the first to grow it for sparkling wine here in Santa Barbara County.

We jumped in with both feet and took a chance, and this first Pinot Meunier sparkling wine is lighting up our world. The grape itself has quite a backbone, forming a sparkling wine with structure and complexity. Bright citrus and ripe blackberry plays softly in the background behind a pretty puff of pillowy yeastiness and a touch of cream. Some might get an exciting and unique note of rye on the finish. Either way, this bottling stands for something that puts a smile on your face.

We’re excited to be hosting a day of pumpkin decorating at our vineyard tasting room. 

Bring only your creativity – we’ve grown hundreds of pumpkins for you to choose from! One pumpkin and decorating supplies included with each ticket. Choose from seating options beginning at 11am or 2pm.

Wine by the bottle or glass available throughout the day in the garden. Tastings available inside the tasting room.  

Tips for a great day:

• Secure your tickets early – space is limited.


• Rain or shine the event will go on – dress accordingly for this outdoor event. 

Stop by our Santa Barbara Tasting Room anytime on Halloween and dive into a spooky-delicious pairing of gourmet candy and our estate-grown wines.

Chocolate truffles, caramel corn and other halloween treats are all surprisingly tasty pairings for a sip of sparkling wine, rosé, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

$20 ticket includes a flight of four wines + candy pairing

Wine club member tastings are always complimentary.

Exclusive hours for Riverbench Wine Club Members

Wine Club members are invited to join us the first Friday of every month for a special after-hours event in our Santa Barbara tasting room. So on Friday, November 1st, when doors close at 6pm, we’re inviting our wine club members and their friends to a private, after-hours event.

• Enjoy wines by the glass or bottle (wine club discounts apply)


• Complimentary light bites

–
Must be an active wine club member or guest to attend. Note that tasting flights end at 5:30pm and wine is available by-the-glass or bottle only.

Live the Dream!

Visit 5 bucket-list countries in 10 days with luxurious accommodations aboard Celebrity with prices starting less than $2,700 for a veranda stateroom. Lumen winemaker Will Henry and his wife will travel with us, pouring his elegant wines in events and seminars exclusive to our group. Join us in optional shore excursions to taste terrific and unique local wines. (Note: shore excursion are an extra cost, for the ones I organize, we will split the cost – no markup.)

Some Highlights of our Itinerary:
VENICE – a UNESCO World Heritage site and in the center of the Veneto wine region, home to prosecco and grappa.
RIJEKA Croatia – winemaking began here 2,500 years ago; we plan to visit wineries here as an optional tour just for our group.
SPLIT, Croatia – UNESCO World Heritage Site Diocletian’s Palace
DUBROVNIK, Croatia – another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the impressive walled city is famous after being featured in “Game of Thrones”.
KOTOR, Montenegro – I’ve been Celebrity’s shore excursion to Plantaze winery built inside a rock mountain. Highly recommended!
VALLETTA, Malta – UNESCO World Heritage Site Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni was founded ~4,000 B.C. I’ll be looking to organize a optional local wine tasting just for our group.
CATANIA, Italy – one option in this port is an hour trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Necropolis of Pantalica another is tasting excellent wines grown on Mt. Etna.
NAPLES, Italy – another UNESCO World Heritage Site; possible optional local wine tasting just for our group.
ROME, Italy – the entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; possible option to stay after the cruise for a Tuscan wine tour with my friend who is an Italian sommelier – I could organize this depending on how many are interested.

The Celebrity Constellation has a wide variety of amenities and programs including art and computer classes, full spa, youth programs (including paid babysitting), Broadway-style shows, casino, multiple bars including a wine bar, indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs and much more.

When I started cruising, I was surprised to learn that staterooms (and especially suites) start selling out a year in advance. I’ve reserved a number of staterooms in a range of prices. There are two discount incentives available for a limited time for our group. This includes 5 Aqua Class staterooms at the Concierge Class price! To ask questions or get more information on our Lumen wine cruise, please email me: Tama at “insidewinesantabarbara @ yahoo.com” [please remove the spaces in the email address] or TEXT me at[masked].

All actual bookings will be handled by our travel agent at Santa Barbara Travel Bureau. You need to put a deposit on a stateroom to secure your reservation with:
Kathy Reimer, Branch Manager, Santa Barbara Travel Bureau/Virtuoso
PH:[masked] office
PH:[masked] direct
“kreimer @ sbtravel.com” [please remove the spaces]

We will be scheduling a reception in the State Street office Santa Barbara Travel Bureau. Please email me at “insidewinesantabarbara @ yahoo.com” [please remove the spaces in the email address] or TEXT me at[masked] if you want to get on the list to be notified.

cheers! Tama

At Riverbench, past and present military service men and women receive complimentary wine tastings year round.

For Veterans Day weekend, we’re toasting to those who served. Visit either Riverbench tasting room anytime on Saturday, Sunday or Monday for a special library sparkling wine pour added to any tasting.

At both Riverbench tasting room locations, members of the military – past and present –  receive complimentary wine tastings year round.

For Veterans Day weekend we’re toasting to those who served with a special vintage sparkling wine pour added to any tasting. Come in anytime on Saturday, Sunday or Monday to raise your glass with us!

Enjoy a glass of this single clone Pinot Noir, paired with rosemary almond brittle from Jessica Foster, at our Santa Barbara Tasting Room Saturday, November 16th and Sunday, November 17th. 

If any clone of Pinot Noir embraces the long histories of both Californian and Burgundian wine growing, it’s the Mount Eden clone. This particular Pinot Noir clone was reportedly brought across the Atlantic Ocean from one of Louis Latour’s Burgundian vineyards in the late 1800’s, and is therefore one of the oldest clones in California. This combination of new and old worlds relates on a micro-level at Riverbench Vineyard as well. A newer planting from 2015, this first vintage of Mount Eden clone Pinot Noir varies a bit from the wines made from our older vines; unique flavors of blueberries and leather are more pronounced. The wine is full of elegance and finesse, with beautiful structure and succinct flavors. 

Stop in anytime over the weekend to try this wine. You can pre-purchase a glass of 2017 Mt. Eden Clone Pinot Noir for $25. Wine Club member discounts apply for tasting room purchases. 

What’s better than doughnuts? Doughnuts paired with wine! 

We are excited to partner with a local bakery in Los Olivos for this special sweet and savory pairing.  God’s Country Provisions was established in 2018 to bring creativity to familiar doughnuts we all love, delivered with wine country hospitality.

Pre-order of this doughnut pairing is required, as they will be baked to order and picked up each morning. Ticket holders may come in to our vineyard tasting room anytime on Saturday from 10am – 3pm to redeem their tickets for a delicious wine and food pairing flight. 

Skip the crowds and go wine tasting, because everyone knows the best gift is wine!

Visit either Riverbench tasting room over Thanksgiving weekend for a special offer too good to pass up:

EVERY CASE OF WINE WILL INCLUDE 13 BOTTLES! 

Get 13 bottles of your favorite Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or sparkling wine for the price of 12.

Or mix it up and choose bottles of the perfect wine for each of your friends and family. For the normal price of a case of wine you can cross 13 names off your gift list!

–

Special offer only available for in-person tasting room purchases during the event weekend and because of the odd quantity, can not be shipped. For mixed cases, discount amount be equal to the lowest price bottle.