Bien Nacido, Kimsey, Larner, Peak, Moulds. Exquisite wines from five of the most storied vineyards in Santa Barbara are front and center at Dalita and Duncan Harmon’s Terre et Sang, a new tasting room on Los Olivos’ main drag that showcases the wines of the same name, produced at the mother-son duo’s winery in nearby Buellton — the best Grenaches I’ve ever tasted from Santa Barbara County. When I learned that winemaker Duncan Harmon had no previous experience in the wine industry, I was gobsmacked by the soulfulness of his single-site Syrahs and Grenaches. Lithe, balanced, elegant and terroir-driven, the wines speak to the essential nature of each vineyard site, which I toured with him and his mom, Dalita, who manages the business side of the operation, over three days last August. But my first question was: How did two newcomers to the wine industry gain access to these grapes, which are among winemakers’ most coveted vineyards in the region? The proof is in the bottle.
It was apparent from the get-go that Dalita and Duncan have a synergistic chemistry, and their energies combined could fill up any room. They are driven by many forces, chief among them curiosity about how to make the most of the grapes they have to work with, determined to do them justice. And neither went blindly into the business — quite the contrary. When Duncan decided, at age 24, he wanted to learn winemaking, he dove in with the full force of his considerable intellectual and emotional powers, learning everything he could learn from self-selected mentors, asking all the questions, and giving himself permission to make mistakes along the way as long as he could learn something from the experience. Dalita has a different personality but a similar demeanor. Also driven and an admitted perfectionist, her previous work in film and as a corporate airline pilot gave her the confidence to forge her own path, and partnering with her son was both a natural evolution of their passions and a leap of faith. One of many common denominators, besides their aligned palates, is intuition. They both trust their own, and they proceed by it.
From their first vintage in 2019 (when Duncan was 29), they garnered attention for their high scores. Though they were often casually discouraged from trying to get access to the most valuable grapes in the county, they proceeded to pursue their dreams and were not met with obstacles but rather interest and generosity. Growers want to sell fruit to winemakers who think they’ll do right by it, and many of the most revered producers said yes to this passion project, whose early results are nothing short of stunning.
It’s hard to pick a favorite wine, but Kissing Vipers might be mine. A Grenache (with 5% Syrah)
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Depending on who you are, walking or driving through the most expensive zip codes in the United States is either an exciting sight-seeing prospect or an activity you’d like to avoid at all costs. No matter which camp you fall into, it can be interesting food for thought to see which locales top the list. To that end, we tapped Zillow to uncover the priciest real estate markets across the country. The results are based on data from December 2023 analyzed with the Zillow Home Value Index, which the company uses to determine the typical home value in a given geography, now and over time. Curious which cities found their ways onto the list? Below, dive into the most expensive zip codes in the United States.
From eerie sandstone moonscapes and jagged granite towers to rare, endangered wildlife and some of the tallest, oldest trees in the world, California's national parks encompass a multitude of singular and beloved natural majesties.
It's time to end the phrase "the kids are finally old enough to travel."Parents frequently wonder what the best age is to take their kids on vacation, when are they going to remember everything or are they too young or old for a big trip. My advice: Take them everywhere. Don't let kids hold you back from spending a month in Europe or backpacking through Southeast Asia or road tripping across the U.S. Unless there is a specific age restriction, there's no reason to leave the kids at home. I learned this the hard way. On our first Christmas markets river cruise, we left the kids at home. We didn't think that river cruising would be a good fit for them. Boy did we regret it. Everytime we left the ship to go to a market, we were reminded how much they would have loved seeing the shops, Santa, the merry-go-round, the ice rink or the Ferris wheel, and there were tons of children onboard, too.
Choosing the perfect venue is crucial for the success of any event in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events. Now more than ever, event organizers seek destinations that offer not only state-of-the-art facilities but also memorable experiences that resonate with attendees long after the event has concluded. In this context, Marriott hotels in Latin America stand out as favorites, given their commitment to excellence, strategic locations, and services tailored to meet even the most demanding event needs.
If you’re looking to escape for a long Easter weekend this year, Italy is always a great idea–especially Florence, where the dawn of spring marks an ideal time to visit the city before the summer crowds descend.
The United States has more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, but where can you find the perfect patch of sand for a vacation? By analyzing its reviews, Tripadvisor ranked the top 10 beaches in the United States.
Sunsets, sandy beaches, and sunshine collide in glamorous Santa Barbara. With the Santa Ynez Mountains looming in the background and pretty Spanish downtown streets to explore, this central California resort suits outdoor enthusiasts as well as city slickers and foodies. All you need is a place to get your beauty sleep. Here’s our selection of the coolest Airbnb Santa Barbara homes and beach house rentals.
Allow your teeth to break through a crisp, golden pastry shell and the reward of soft clouds of sweetened ricotta await. Sicily’s emblematic dessert — the cannoli — has captured the palates of food enthusiasts worldwide, but there’s also a fascinating story behind its shape.