by Laurie Jervis, Noozhawk Columnist October 31, 2022 | 1:10 pm
The view from Vega Vineyard across the Santa Ynez Valley and toward Buellton. (Jeremy Ball / Bottle Branding photo)
The Loizides family of the Santa Ynez Valley has opened Vega Vineyard and Farm on the historic Buellton ranch that dates back to 1853 and was the longtime home of Mosby Winery & Vineyards until the Mosby family sold the property.
Hospitality entrepreneurs Karen and Demetrios “Jimmy” Loizides — who are the owners of the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez and Solvang’s K’Syrah Catering & Events and the former owners/founders of Sear Steakhouse in Solvang — have opened Vega Vineyard, a working winery, farm and event venue on Santa Rosa Road.
Vega Vineyard and Farm includes the former Mosby vineyards, 21 acres currently planted to Italian varietals, as well as the site’s winery and tasting room, both of which have been redesigned.
Leading Vega’s winemaking operations is longtime Santa Barbara County winemaker Steve Clifton, known for his decades-long work with Italian grape varieties, in particular for his former label, Palmina. Estate-grown Vega Vineyard and Farm bottlings will start with the current vintage (2022).
Currently available for tasting and purchase are an inventory of wines from the former Mosby Winery, among them nebbiolo, sangiovese, dolcetto, syrah, barbera, pinot noir, chardonnay, Bianco (a white blend), albariño, pinot grigio, vermentino, viognier and a rosato (rosé).
The tasting room is contained within a barn that was once the land’s circa-1880s carriage house. It joins other historical buildings on the property, including the original abode home, dating back to 1853, which now includes a VIP seating area.
(Jeremy Ball / Bottle Branding photo)
Atop one of the highest points of the mountainous parcel of land stands a 216-sq. foot adobe-style chapel with pews salvaged from an Ohio church. The chapel has stained-glass windows and an outdoor patio with views of the Santa Ynez Valley.
“This property has an incredible, tangible history, and such energy of its own. But it needed some love, and we are overjoyed at the chance to be the people who inject new life into this important place,” said Jimmy Loizides.
