Sip + Sushi:

Sip + Sushi:

A bit of a twist at Margerum’s new tasting spot in Los Olivos

By Leslie A. Westbrook

Doug Margerum is at it again, this time with a gem of a new tasting room in Santa Barbara Wine Country’s charming Los Olivos. The spot offers a new twist on wine-pairing: a bento box with your vino tasting. 

Margerum has been raising his glass to customers and friends for over 40 years in Santa Barbara’s hospitality trade, as a restaurateur and winemaker. Known for impeccable wines that he fashions for his own label, as well as consulting gigs to budding and wannabe winemakers, his talents have consistently set a high bar and earned respect for his Santa Ynez Valley estate wines.

This past summer, Margerum decided to open his tiny Santa Barbara wine country tasting room collaborating on the food-pairing side with Jina Bae of BB Sushi.

“Knowing that Jina was just about a mile away made it an easy decision to work with her,” said Margerum. “She’s very talented.” 

Margerum’s second tasting location (the other is located in downtown Santa Barbara in the Hotel Californian plaza) provides an opportunity to share some unique food and wine experiences highlighting Asian-style seafood and pork. Nestled on Alamo Pintado Road (between other wine tasting rooms) the petit spot can hold 12 to 15 inside and the same number at the outside high-top tables. Seating arrangements are very flexible. An added bonus? Lovely small oil paintings of valley vineyards by Santa Barbara’s beloved artist Joseph Arreno (1950-2006) from Margerum’s personal collection hang on the walls.

One usually pairs sushi with saki, but Margerum definitely wanted a “food angle” for the Los Olivos Tasting Room.

“I had always thought about pairing Japanese cuisine, sushi and raw fish, with the wines from the very beginning,” he said. “I sell a lot of wine in Japan and I love how the wines work with the delicate cuisine.” 

The highly curated five-course bento box of sushi rolls, eel, sashimi, and Korean pork expertly paired with five Margerum and Barden wines goes something like this: It begins with the 2020 Barden Blanc de Blancs 100% Chardonnay made in the traditional method paired with fresh Dungeness crab baked with vanilla bean sauce and wrapped in soy paper.

Next up, 2022 Margerum Sybarite Sauvignon Blanc, Happy Canyon is paired with buri sashimi yellowtail brushed with yuzu soy sauce. Third, the 2022 Margerum M5 Estate White Rhone Blend, Los Olivos District, a blend of five white Rhone varieties (grenache blanc, marsanne, roussanne, viognier, and picpoul blanc paired with sweet unagi (eel). 2022 Margerum M5 Red Rhone Blend, Santa Barbara County, a blend of five red Rhone varieties (grenache, syrah, mourvèdre, cinsault, and counoise), complements the bluefin tuna, avocado, shiso leaf, umeboshi (pickled dried plum) with creamy sesame dressing. Last, but not least, 2020 Barden Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills tops off the tasting with bulgogi (grilled Korean spiced pork) with sesame seeds and green onions.

If Kumamoto oysters from the Pacific Northwest and bubbly are your thing, the oysters and sparkling wine pairing ($90 for two) in another option that includes a dozen of these tiny fresh bivalves with two glasses of the 2020 Barden Blanc de Blancs.

Both the Bento Box Food & Wine pairing for two experience ($150) and the Oyster/Sparkling Wine pairing ($90) require advance planning and must be booked a day in advance. Walk-ins are welcome for tastings by the glass and small bites (as available), but due to the size of the new space it’s highly recommended that you book your visit on Tock or call or email prior to opening so the Margerum team can accommodate.

Reservations@margerumwines.com for larger party requests. Wine club members receive discounts. 805-504-1209.

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